China's retail sales of consumer goods in the past three quarters hit 4,508.1 billion yuan (556.56 billion US dollars), up 13.0 percent year-on-year, according to a monthly report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Monday

Figures from the NBS show that in September alone, the figure came to 549.5 billion yuan, up 12.7 percent.

The retail sales rose 14.0 percent to 3,030.9 billion yuan in urban areas, and 11.0 percent to 1,477.2 billion yuan in regions at and below county level.

Sales of wholesale and retail businesses reached 3,760.6 billion yuan, up 12.8 percent year-on-year; catering sales, 619.7 billion yuan, up 17.3 percent.

According to the report, consumption of grain and cooking oil surged 38.7 percent, the highest growth rate among all goods. Following was sales of petroleum and finished oil products, up 38.35 percent. Sales of materials of building and decorating climbed 27.8 percent, the third highest growth rate.

Source: Xinhua