While China's economic growth was slowing in 2012, urban Chinese women were cutting their spending on clothes and saving more to deal with the recession, a survey showed.

Last year, urban women spent about 21,590 yuan ($3,430) per person on average, down from 63,414 yuan in 2006, said the survey released by Women of China magazine.

Lu Jin, chief editor of the magazine, said the survey polled 1,109 women in 10 big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou about their spending habits and happiness in 2012. The annual survey has been released for seven years.

"The survey can objectively reflect the close relationship between the macro economy and women's behavior," Lu said.

Besides putting 26 percent of the yearly family income in their bank accounts, when it came to managing money, buying stocks was the first option for most urban women in 2012.

Although spending less on clothes and saving more, 84.6 percent of respondents shopped online last year, about 15 percent more than 2011.

The survey said none of the respondents were satisfied with food safety and they expected the authorities to strengthen the market supervision and hand down harsh penalties for illegal behavior.

While the country's economy slowed last year, 64 percent of respondents were optimistic about the economy in 2013.