Record rural consumption fuels economic expansion

China's fast-growing rural market is fuelling the country's economy with record growth in 2009, driven by farmers' rising incomes and a slew of stimulus policies.

Growth in rural consumption expanded around 15.5 percent in 2009 and outpaced that in urban areas (15.2 percent) for the first time, said the Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

The total amount of rural consumption is estimated at 4 trillion yuan, the ministry said.