The gross domestic product of Beijing totaled 1.6 trillion yuan (US$253.3 billion) last year, up 8.1 percent from 2010, said the city government on January 19, 2012.
The 798 Art District. Beijing will put more emphasis on the service sector, especially information services and the cultural and creative industries.
Amid macro economic control in 2011, Beijing saw a slowdown in its economic growth. Last year, the city adopted strict home-purchase restrictions, which was estimated to bring a reduction of 0.5 percentage points in the city's GDP growth.
In 2011, Beijing's per capita GDP totaled 80,394 yuan (US$12,447), close to the levels of developed countries. Despite the moderate slowdown of growth, Beijing met all the growth targets set at the beginning of last year, said Yu Xiuqin, deputy chief of Beijing Statistical Bureau.
Investment, foreign trade and consumption remained the three major drivers of the capital's economy.
Last year, Beijing reported 591 billion yuan of fixed asset investment, up 13.3 percent year-on-year. Foreign trade totaled US$389.49 billion, up 29.1 percent from 2010. Local revenue reached 300.6 billion yuan, up 27.7 percent from 2010.
The disposable income of Beijing's urban residents averaged 32,903 yuan, up 13.2 percent year-on-year, while the city's consumer price index, a major gauge of inflation, rose by 5.6 percent year-on-year.
According to Yu, the capital's economic structure is likely to undergo major changes in the years to come, with more emphasis on the service sector, especially information services and the cultural and creative industries.
