National Retail Sales of Hotel and Catering in the First 2 Months

　According to statistics released from National Bureau of Statistics, MOFCOM Department of Commercial Reform and Development analyzed that total retail sales of hotel and catering in Feb. amounted to RMB82.57 billion, up by 9.8% compared with the same period of the previous year and down by 11.6% compared with that in Jan., accounting for 13.8% of total retail sales of consumer goods in the same month and 0.4% higher than the growth of total retail sales of consumer goods.

　　In the first 2 months of 2006, total retail sales of hotel and catering reached RMB176.02 billion, up by 13.1% compared with the same period of the previous year, 0.6% higher than that of total retail sales of consumer goods, accounting for 13.9%, driving up 1.81% and contributing 14.5% to the increase of total retail sales of consumer goods. In the same period, 132 foreign investment enterprises in hotel and catering were newly established, up by 11.86% on a year-on-year basis. The commitment hit US$399.82 million and actual use of foreign investment was US$133.01 million, up by 48.27% and 141% respectively.