Consumption to account for bigger share of nation's economy this year

The nation will roll out measures in 2019 to boost retail sales of consumer goods, as consumption is predicted to play a greater role in the economy.

The country's consumption has continued its rapid ascent, and would remain the main driver of economic growth, the Ministry of Commerce said. It estimated that the country's retail sales would climb 9 percent year-on-year in 2019, contributing some 65 percent to overall economic expansion.

Wang Bin, deputy director-general of the ministry's department of market operation and consumption promotion, said the ministry will take a series of steps to boost the consumption upgrade both in cities and the countryside, offer more services and integrate online and offline channels.