CHINA’S so-called second-tier cities are fast becoming the first stop for luxury goods vendors as middle-class consumers seek high living standards in lower-cost locales, taking with them their penchant for pricey parkers and expensive extras.
With luxury spending in places like Nanjing, Changsha and two dozen other middling cities exceeding that of a handful of economic powerhouses such as Beijing and Shanghai, bling brands like Burberry and Louis Vuitton owner LVMH are following the money and booking sales that point to a recovery in China’s battered luxury sector.
