In the first quarter of 2008, the consumer goods market of Dalian had total retail sales of RMB28.29 billion, which increased by 17.5% over last year. It has been the biggest year-on-year increase since 1997.

Among the first three months, the retail sales of January was RMB10.28 billion, increasing 19.6% compared with the corresponding period last year; the number was RMB9.31 billion in February, which increased 14.5%; and RMB8.7 billion in March, which increased 18.5%.

Analyzed from regions, urban retail sales of consumer goods was RMB26.42 billion, which increased 17.6% and county and below county level retail sales was RMB1.87 billion, which increased 17%.

Analyzed by industries, wholesale and retail sales was RMB23.53 billion, which increased 18.3%; accommodation and catering industry retail sales was RMB4.5 billion, which increased 16.6%; other industries retail sales was RMB260 million, which decreased 19.4%.