(Yicai Global) July 15 -- China's retail sales increased 8.4 percent annually in the first half to CNY19.5 trillion (USD2.8 trillion), according to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics today.

The figure was 8.1 percent over the first five months, compared with 9.4 percent over the same period a year earlier, the figures show.

Results from an Yicai Global survey of 22 chief economists at major Chinese financial institutions had predicted, on average, that retail sales would increase 8.3 percent over the first half.