China's retail sales reached 174.32 billion yuan (US$24.38 billion) in January and February this year, an increase of 20.2 percent year-on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics said today.

Urban retail sales stood at 118.41 billion yuan, a 20.8 percent increase over the same period of 2007.

The retail sales of consumer goods in the areas at or under county levels increased 18.9 percent on-year to 55.91 billion, accounting for 32 percent of the country's total sales.

The January and February retail figures are often combined to filter out the fluctuation caused by Spring Festival holidays, which may fall in either January or February.

Jewelry sales experienced the highest increase of 46.8 percent over the corresponding period of last year.

The increasing gold price has had no impact on gold sales. A counter in Wujiachang Jewelry Market in Yangpu District of Shanghai can sell about 7,500 grams of gold bars every day, a previous Shanghai Oriental Morning Post report said.

Sales of edible oils and petroleum increased at 41.2 percent and 40.3 percent respectively.

The sales of vehicles, meat, stationery, furniture, entertainment and commodities all posted more than 20 percent year-on-year increases, according to the bureau's figures.

(Shanghai Daily March 12, 2008)