3. Retail sales of consumer goods increased steadily.

In July, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 993.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 15.2 percent, which was 8.1 percentage points lower than that in the same period last year, or 0.2 percentage point higher than that in June this year. In the first seven months of this year, the total retail sales of consumer goods were 6,864.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 15.0 percent, or down by 6.7 percentage points over that in the same period of last year. It maintained the same level over that in the first half of this year.

Analyzed by different areas, the retail sales in cities reached 679.4 billion yuan in July, up by 15.1 percent, and the retail sales at and below county level stood at 314.3 billion yuan, up by 15.4 percent.

Grouped by different sectors, in July, the sales by wholesale and retail businesses reached 841.0 billion yuan, up by 15.2 percent, that by lodging and catering industry was 136.5 billion yuan, up by 16.8 percent, others 16.2 billion yuan, up 2.6 percent.

Grouped by commodity categories, the sales of foods, clothing, and articles for daily use by wholesale and retail businesses above designated size increased by 13.3 percent, 19.1 percent, and 15.2 percent respectively year-on-year. Of this total, prices for grain and oil went up by 11.9 percent; meat, poultry and eggs up by 6.6 percent; clothing, up 19.6 percent; articles for daily use, up16.3 percent; household appliances, music and video equipment, up 8.0 percent; motor vehicles, up 32.0 percent; petroleum and products, up 1.1 percent; building and decoration materials, up 25.8 percent.

4. The year-on-year change of consumer prices declined to some extent, month-on-month change maintained the same level.

In July, the consumer price index went down by 1.8 percent year-on-year (it was 6.3 percent growth in July 2008), or 0.1 percentage point lower than that in the previous month. In July, the price dropped by 1.9 percent in cities and 1.6 percent in rural areas year-on-year. The food price went down 1.2 percent while the non-food price dropped by 2.1 percent. The prices of consumer goods went down by 2.0 percent, and the prices of services down by 1.4 percent. In the first seven months, the year-on-year change of consumer price was down by 1.2 percent (it was 7.7 percent growth the same period a year ago), or 0.1 percentage point lower than that in the first half of this year. Grouped by commodity categories, in July, of the eight categories of commodities, two of them experienced prices rise and the rest six witnessed prices decline. Of which, prices for food down by 1.2 percent, prices for tobacco, liquor and articles up by 1.2 percent, price for clothing went down by 2.4 percent, prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services down by 0.4 percent, health care and personal articles up by 0.7 percent; clothing down by percent, transportation and communication down by 2.7 percent, recreation, education, culture articles and services down by 0.7 percent, and housing down by 5.8 percent.

In July this year, month-on-month change of consumer price maintained the same level. Of which, price in cities had no change and that in rural areas went up by 0.1 percent. The food price went down 0.2 percent while the non-food price up by 0.1 percent. The price of consumer goods went down by 0.1 percent and the price of services up by 0.5 percent. Grouped by commodity categories, in July, prices for food down by 0.2 percent month-on-month, prices for tobacco, liquor and articles up by 0.2 percent, price for clothing went down by 0.9 percent, prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services down by 0.2 percent, health care and personal articles maintained the same level over that in the previous month; transportation and communication up by 0.5 percent, recreation, education, culture articles and services up by 0.6 percent, and housing up by 0.3 percent.