Chinas gross domestic product rose 11.9% in the first quarter, the countrys National Bureau of Statistics reported. The value of production by textile companies rose 21.6%. Total retail sales of consumer goods within China rose 17.9%, buoyed by a 9.2% increase in per capita cash income for rural households and a 7.5% increase in income for urban households. Sales of Sports and recreation articles rose 13.3%, while sales of garments rose 23.9%. By contrast, auto sales rose 39.8%.
The consumer price index rose 2.2% for the month, which included 5.1% for foodstuffs, -0.9% for clothing and -0.1% for recreational, educational, cultural activities and services.
