The numbers making news around China during the week of Dec 3, 2012

25 percent
Amount Toyota’s sales were down in November compared to the same period last year. This follows a 50 percent and 44 percent decline in September and October respectfully. Sales took a major hit in the wake of Anti-Japanese sentiment that flared in September. Reuters

500,000 yuan
Amount a fake employment agent admitted to scamming out of foreigners last year. China Foreign Teachers Union

24
Number of Chinese companies included in the list of the world’s 500 biggest firms. This is down from 34 in 2009. Bloomberg 

$2 million
Amount China Nuclear Industry Huaxing Construction Co. will have to pay in fines after admitting it helped to export nuclear reactor paint from the U.S. to Pakistan without a license. Bloomberg

1 trillion yuan
The total value of transactions that have gone through Alibaba in the first 11 months of 2012. Economic Observer

72 hours
Length of time foreigners from 45 countries will be allowed to visit Beijing without a visa starting from Jan 1. China Daily

$56 billion
Amount the Ministry of Environmental Protection has said will be spent to cut air pollution in major cities by 2015. It says local governments will fund most of the programs. Reuters