The total volume of retail sales of consumer goods in 1998 was 2,915.3 billion yuan, up by 6.8 percent over 1997. If the decline in prices is taken into consideration, the real growth would be 9.7 percent.

• 全年社会消费品零售总额29153亿元，比上年增长6.；8%25，考虑价格下降因素，实际增长9