Urban and rural markets have been thriving. The total volume of retail sales of consumer goods in the country increased from 2.73 trillion Yuan in 1997 to 4.1 trillion Yuan in 2002,up by an annual average of 10.5% in real terms.

• 城乡市场繁荣，全社会消费品零售总额从1997年的2.；73万亿元增加到2002年的4