[Ministry of Commerce: Consumption is truly the first driving force for economic growth] On October 22, Yang Mu, Director of the Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, said at a press conference of the State Council Information Office that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, final consumer spending has contributed an average annual contribution of 55% to China’s economic growth, and consumption is truly the first driving force. China's total retail sales of consumer goods will reach 50.1 trillion yuan in 2025, 2.4 times that of 2012. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, total retail sales have grown at an average annual rate of 7.1%, a development speed that has attracted worldwide attention.