Retail Sales Rose 20% in China in Feb

-- China's retail sales climbed 20.2percent, matching the fastest pace in at least nine years, a sign that consumer spending may sustain the world's fastest-growing major economy as export demand weakens. --The increase for January and February was the same as December's and more than the 19 percent median forecast of 18 economists in a Bloomberg News survey. The figure was boosted bythe fastest inflation in 11 years. --Spending fueled by a 17 percent increase in urban incomes last year helps the expansions in China of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.and Carrefour SA, the world's biggest retailers, and may curb the economy's dependence on exports and investment for growth.Overseas shipments rose 6.5 percent in February, the least inalmost six years. --China's per capita gross national income of $2,010 in 2006compared with $44,970 in the U.S. and $250 in Rwanda, accordingto a World Bank report.