3. Investment in fixed assets enjoyed fast growth with improved investment structure. In the first three quarters of this year, the investment in fixed assets of the country was 19,222.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 24.0 percent. Of this total, the investment in urban areas reached 16,587.0 billion yuan, up by 24.5 percent while that in rural areas was 2,635.8 billion yuan, up by 20.5 percent. Of the total investment in fixed assets in urban areas, that in the primary industry, the secondary industry and the tertiary industry went up by 17.7 percent, 22.0 percent and 26.7 percent respectively. The investment in eastern, central and western regions grew by 21.5 percent, 27.1 percent and 26.5 percent respectively. In the first three quarters of this year, the investment in real estate development was 3,351.1 billion yuan, up by 36.4 percent year-on-year.

4. Sales on domestic markets enjoyed steady and fast growth and the popular commodities maintained high sales. In the first three quarters of this year, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 11,102.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 18.3 percent. The retail sales in cities reached 9,598.7 billion yuan, up by 18.7 percent, and the retail sales in rural areas stood at 1,504.1 billion yuan, up by 15.8 percent. Grouped by consumption patterns, the income of catering industry was 1,263.2 billion yuan, up by 17.6 percent; that of retail sales of commodities, 9,839.7 billion yuan, up by 18.4 percent. In particular, the retail sales by businesses above designated size reached 4,094.5 billion yuan, up by 29.3 percent. Rapid growth was registered in emerging areas for consumption: the sales of motor vehicles rose by 34.9 percent; that of furniture went up by 38.4 percent, and that of household appliances and audio-video equipment grew by 28.1 percent.

5. The consumer prices went up mildly and the increase of producer prices for manufactured goods became steady. In the first three quarters of this year, the consumer prices went up by 2.9 percent year-on-year. The price rose by 2.8 percent in cities and that in rural areas by 3.1 percent. Grouped by commodity categories, five out of the eight witnessed growth and the rest three saw drops in prices. The prices for food rose by 6.1 percent; prices for tobacco, liquor and articles up by 1.6 percent; health care and personal articles up by 2.9 percent; recreation, education, culture articles and services up by 0.6 percent; and housing up by 4.1 percent while prices for clothing down by 1.1 percent; household facilities, articles and maintenance services down by 0.3 percent; and transportation and communication down by 0.3 percent. In September this year, the consumer prices grew by 3.6 percent year-on-year and 0.6 percent month-on-month. In the first three quarters of this year, the producer prices for manufactured goods went up by 5.5 percent year-on-year. The year-on-year change in September was up by 4.3 percent and the month-on-month change was up by 0.6 percent. In the first three quarters of the year, the year-on-year growth of purchasing prices for raw materials, fuels and power was 9.8 percent.

6. Foreign trade grew rapidly and trade surplus was reduced to some extent. The total value of imports and exports for the first three quarters of this year was US$ 2,148.7 billion, up by 37.9 percent year-on-year. The value of exports was US$ 1,134.6 billion, up by 34.0 percent, and the value of imports was US$ 1,014.0 billion, up by 42.4 percent. The trade surplus was US$ 120.6 billion, a decline of US$ 14.9 billion over the same period last year.