BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Consumption, trade and foreign investment grew at a robust pace in the first quarter of this year in the Chinese capital, Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau said.
Total consumption reached 628 billion yuan (92.3 billion U.S. dollars) from January to March, an increase of 6.8 percent year on year, the bureau said.
During the period, 362 foreign-invested enterprises were established in Beijing, a year-on-year growth of 8.7 percent. Import and export expanded 8.3 percent to reach 663 billion yuan.
Service consumption in information and sports surged over 20 percent respectively, the bureau said. Medical and educational spending grew 8 and 7.3 percent respectively.
A growing portion of spending on services occurred online, it said.
Foreign investment in information, technology and commercial services industries maintained powerful growth, the bureau said.
From January to March, Beijing imported 546 billion yuan (80.2 billion dollars) worth of goods and services, up 9.8 percent. Export totaled 117 billion yuan, up 1.9 percent.
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