BEIJING, Apr. 12 -- China sold 16.03 million household appliances in rural areas in the first quarter of this year for a total of RMB 31.67 billion. Sales volume was 5.9 times that of the same period of last year, while sales revenue nearly octupled, said the country's Ministry of Commerce.

In March alone, 6.25 million household appliances were sold in rural areas, bringing RMB 12.4 billion in sales revenue.

Chang Xiaocun, director general of the ministry's market system development office, said that the central government will offer further discounts on TVs, mobile phones and refrigerators to stimulate consumption.

Last month, the government announced subsidies for purchases of six additional types of household appliances: electric bicycles, stove hoods, gas cookers, electrical pressure cookers, rice cookers and DVD players.