BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s lottery ticket sales in August soared to their highest for any month so far this year, amid public concern about the economy following months of mostly gloomy data including youth unemployment.
The surging lottery ticket sales coincided with months of mostly soft economic data, with the unemployment rate of job seekers aged between 16 and 24 drawing particular attention from policymakers.
China’s youth unemployment rate hit a record high of 21.3% in June, according to official data.
Some social media commentators have linked the sharp rise in lottery sales in recent months to young people’s deepening economic worries.
Earlier this year, China’s social media was alit with videos of jobless university graduates visiting temples to seek the blessings of the gods.
Persons:
Ann Wang, “ Young, ”
Organizations:
REUTERS, Xinhua
Locations:
BEIJING, Hualien, Taiwan, Weibo