In May, the retail sale of social consumer goods totaled 617.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 14.2%.

Analyzed by region, the retail sale of urban consumer goods was 417.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 15%; that of the area at the county level and below was 199.7 billion yuan, up 12.6%.

Analyzed by industry, the retail sale of the wholesale and retail trade was 523.2 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 14.1%; that of accommodation and catering trade was 82.9 billion yuan, up 17%; that of other industries was 11.5 billion yuan, up 0.9%.

Analyzed by category, the retail sale of the wholesale and retail trade in foods, clothes and articles above designated size showed the year-on-year rises of 15.5%, 20.8% and 24.5%. In which, that of grain and oil products rose 18.3%, that of meat, poultry and eggs went up 12.9%, that of clothes, hats, knitted and woven products went up 20.8%, that of cultural and office articles was up 9.2%, that of sports and recreational articles went up 23.5%, that of daily necessities was up 14.7%, that of home electric appliance and audiovisual equipment rose 26.6%, that of furniture increase 40.1%, that of building and upholstering equipment rose 20.2%, that of cosmetics went up 20.1%,that of gold, silver and pearl jewelry rose 25.3%, that of communications equipment went up 24.8%, that of autos rose 29.4%, that of petroleum and its products climbed 36.4%.

Added up from January to May, the retail sale of social consumer goods totaled 3039 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 13.2%.

(Chinagate.com.cn June 13, 2006)