China's retail sales of consumer goods in the first quarter of 2006 reached 1,844 billion yuan (230.5 billion U.S. dollars), rising 12.8 percent year-on-year, or a real growth of 12.2 percent, or 0.3 percentage points higher year-on-year after deducting price factors.

Spokesman Zheng Jingping of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made the announcement in Beijing Thursday at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office.

Of the total, the retail sales in urban areas reached 1,241 billion yuan, up 13.5 percent, said Zheng.

The retail sales at and below county level stood at 603 billion yuan, up 11.5 percent, he said.

In terms of different sectors, the sales by wholesale and retail businesses were 1,555.1 billion yuan, up 12.9 percent, and that by lodging and catering industry were 254.2 billion yuan, up 14.2 percent.

Source: Xinhua