China's retailer and catering enterprises earned over 1 trillion yuan during the Lunar New Year holiday, defying an economic slump to rise 8.5% from last year, the country's commerce ministry said.

The increase was down to the rapid growth in sales of new-year gifts, traditional foods, electronic products and local speciality products over a six-day holiday period ending on Saturday.

Domestic tourism during the new year break generated total revenues of 513.9 billion yuan, up 8.2% on the year, with the number of trips rising 7.6% to 415 million.