The total output value of China's building industry increased 18.4 percent year on year, amounting to 1,205.7 billion yuan (some 150 billion US dollars) in the first half of 2005, according to a report issued by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Friday.

Figures in the report show that the combined value of contracted projects reached 3136.5 billion yuan (about 392 billion US dollars), a year-on-year increase of 19.7 percent. The total area under construction rose by 18.6 percent to 2.199 billion square meters. The total area completed grew by 21.8 percent to 380 million square meters.

The output value of completed building projects reached 508.8 billion yuan (some 63 billion US dollars), an increase of 19.9 percent, and labor productivity amounted to 52,595 yuan (about 6, 574 US dollars) per person, a year-on-year increase of 13.4 percent.

The gross income of the building industry amounted to 1035.5 billion yuan (some 129 billion US dollars), up by 21.7 percent from the same period of 2004, with total profit reaching 15.2 billion yuan (some 1.8 billion US dollars), rising by 25.4 percent year on year.

Source: Xinhua