among all kinds of statistics related to consumption, the total retail sales of social consumer goods is the most direct data showing domestic consumption demand. The total retail sales of social consumer goods is the total amount of consumer goods sold directly to urban and rural residents and social groups in various industries of the national economy. It reflects the total amount of consumer goods supplied by various industries to residents and social groups through various commodity circulation channels, and is an important indicator to study the changes in the domestic retail market and reflect the degree of economic prosperity.

according to consumption patterns, the total retail sales of social consumer goods are divided into two parts: commodity retail and catering income. Among them, retail sales of goods refers to the amount of physical goods sold for non-production and non-operation, including wholesale and retail sales, accommodation above designated size and sales of catering goods; Catering income refers to the amount of income obtained by providing catering services, including the retail sales of accommodation and catering industry below the quota, the income of accommodation and catering industry meals above the quota;

in business statistics, the total retail sales of social goods can be divided into commercial retail sales, catering retail sales, industrial retail sales, etc.

according to economic types, it can be divided into national ownership, collective ownership, individual ownership, Sino-foreign joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.

according to the sales target, it can be divided into retail sales of consumer goods to urban and rural residents, retail sales of consumer goods to social groups, retail sales of agricultural means of production to rural areas, etc.

according to commodity categories, it can be divided into food retail sales, daily necessities retail sales, cultural and entertainment retail sales, clothing retail sales, medicine retail sales, fuel retail sales, agricultural means of production retail sales and so on.