Restaurants see sales up 21%

China's restaurants saw sales grow by 21.4% in 2004, a sign of the country's growing affluence and increased spending power. According to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, restaurant sales topped US$90.45bn in 2004, accounting for 14% of China's total retail sales for the year. The ministry said that worked out as China spending a record high of RMB580 (US$70.1) per capita on eating out in 2004.