Since the beginning of this year, China's city and country residents' consumption rate has continued to increase.

According to statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China on June 25th, total nationwide social consumer product retail sales between January and May of this year, has reached 3.50178 trillion yuan, with a growth of 15.2 percent. In May, total nationwide social consumer products retail sales reached 715.75 billion yuan, with a growth of 15.9 percent.

The National Bureau of Statistics in China announced on the same day, that this past May, residents' consumer price index had reached 103.4. Among eight categories of products, five indexes surpassed those of the same months during last year, while only three categories had indexes less than last year's.

May's food price index was the highest at 108.9. Included in this number is grain at 105.9, meat at 126.5, eggs at 133.4, water products at 103.7, fresh vegetables at 97.7, and fresh fruits at 88.8. The average is less than 100. The price indexes surpassing 100 include that of tobacco and liquor (101.7); family appliances and service products (102.2); medical, health care and personal products (101.6); and housing (104.0). Price indexes lower than 100 include clothing (99.9); transportation and information communication (99.5); and entertainment, educational cultural products and services (98.8).