Chinese retail sales of consumer goods in May were 489.9 billion yuan (59.17 billion US dollars), a rise of 12.8 percent over the same month in 2004, according to a monthly report released by China's National Bureau of Statistics Tuesday.

Retail sales of consumer goods in urban area were 332.6 billion yuan while that in the rural areas were 157.3 billion yuan, posting a year-on-year growth of 13.9 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively.

Retail sales in the wholesale and retail industry were 409.4 billion yuan, 12.3 percent higher over last May. They were 66.4 billion yuan in catering, rising 19.5 percent.

The retail sales in other industries were 14.2 billion yuan, up 0.2 percent.

The strongest growth rate was found in such sectors as foodstuffs, cultural and entertainment products and fuel.

Consumption of petroleum and finished oil products surged 44.7 percent year-on-year in April, while sales of automobiles grew 15.4 percent.

Source: Xinhua