China's top statistician Li Deshui said here on Wednesday the country's total retail sales of consumer goods reached 6.7177 trillion yuan in 2005, a year-on-year increase of 12.9 percent.

The increase, or a real growth of 12 percent after deducting price factors, is 1.8 percentage points higher than that in the previous year, Li told a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council.

Of the total, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas increase by 13.6 percent, and the retail sales at county and below county level is up by 11.5 percent.

The growth of wholesale and retail sector is 12.6 percent, and the growth of catering industry is 17.7 percent, Li said.

Of the sales by wholesale and retail business above designated size, he said, the sales of communication equipment is up by 19.9 percent, that of household electric appliances and audio-video appliances increase by 14.8 percent, automobiles up 16.6 percent and oil and oil products up 34.4 percent.

Source: Xinhua