Beijing notched up about 180.31 billion yuan (about US$21.72 billion) in retail sales of consumer commodities in the first 10 months of the year.

According to information from the municipal bureau of commerce retail sales volume for January-October period shows a year-on-year rise of 15.9 percent in constant prices, lower than the 16.9 percent the city recorded in the first three quarters of the year.

However, Beijing is ahead of Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Chongqing in terms of the growth rate of retail sales of consumer commodities in the first ten months of this year, according to the information.

Beijing chalked up 160.91 billion yuan (some US$19.39 billion) in retail sales of consumer goods for January-September period.

Compared with performance in October last year, retail sales of foodstuffs, apparel and fuel continued to soar in October this year, but retail sale of durable commodities just met last year's standard, according to the information.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2004)