China's retail sales of consumer goods in August hit 504.1 billion yuan (62.16 billion US dollars),up 12.5 percent year-on-year, according to a monthly report released here Tuesday from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Figures from the NBS said retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas reached 340.1 billion yuan, up 13.5 percent, while that in rural areas were 164 billion yuan, up 10.5 percent.

Retail sales in the wholesale and retail industry were 419 billion yuan, a rise of 12.4 percent, while that in the catering industry rose 15.8 percent to 71.2 billion yuan. Retail sales in other industries totaled 13.8 billion yuan, an increase of 0.3 percent.

According to the report, consumption of petroleum and finished oil products surged 41.1 percent, the highest growth rate among all goods. Following was sales of grain and oil, up 36.5 percent. Sales of clothing climbed 21.1 percent, the third highest growth rate.

Source:Xinhua