The per capita disposable income of urban residents and the per capita net income of rural residents in China are expected to increase by about 6 percent and 5 percent respectively in real terms this year, according to a report on national economic and social development plan.

The report described the fast growing national economy, furthergovernment measures to increase farm production and farmers' income, and continued improvements in enterprise performance and the government's social security and poverty alleviation work as factors that "will help increase urban and rural incomes."

The report on the implementation of the 2004 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2005 draft plan for national economic and social development was submitted Saturday for approval to the ongoing session of the National People's Congress.

There are also quite a few difficulties and uncertainties that could slow the rise in personal incomes, particularly rural incomes, says the report, without giving details.

According to government statistics, the per capita disposable income of urban residents stood at 9,422 yuan (1,338 US dollars) and the net income of farmers per capita reached 2,936 yuan (355 US dollars), an annual increase of 7.7 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively, in real terms.

The report also projects a 12.5 percent increase in retail sales of consumer goods for the whole country this year.

Xinhua