V. Domestic Trade

In 2008, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 10,848.8 billion yuan, up by 21.6 percent over the previous year. An analysis on different areas showed that the retail sales of consumer goods in cities reached 7,373.5 billion yuan, up by 22.1 percent and the retail sales of consumer goods at and below county level was 3,475.3 billion yuan, up by 20.7 percent. Analyzed by different sectors, the sales of the wholesales and retail trade reached 9,119.9 billion yuan, up 21.5 percent; the sales of the lodging and catering industry was 1,540.4 billion yuan, up 24.7 percent, and the sales of the other industries was 188.5 billion yuan, up 3.7 percent.

Of the total retail sales by wholesale and retail enterprises above designated size, the sales of grain and oil was up by 22.7 percent, meat and eggs up by 22.3 percent, clothing up by 25.9 percent, motor vehicles up by 25.3 percent, petroleum and related products up by 39.9 percent, daily necessities up by 17.1 percent, cultural and office goods up by 17.9 percent, telecommunication equipment up by 1.4 percent, electric and electronic appliances for household use and audio-video equipment up by 14.2 percent, building and decoration materials up by 12.0 percent, furniture up 22.6 percent, cosmetics up by 22.1 percent, gold, silver and jewelry up by 38.6 percent and traditional Chinese drugs and western drugs up by 14.8 percent.