The experts devoted a considerable amount of time to discussion of industry performance indicators, including inventory sales ratio, sales per space and margin turnover sales per person employed.

Eurostat data indicate that sales over the Internet in the EU increased from 0.9 per cent of total sales in 2002 to 2.2 per cent in 2004.

Online sales are less common in retail trade (B2C) or in services' industries, with sales accounting for only 1.7 and 1 per cent of total sales, respectively.

Seventy five per cent of Internet sales is B2B, mainly between large firms.

The final sales price is 5 per 25 kilogram bag or 200 per metric ton (at the port of Kismaayo).

Across managed pubs and bars drink sales were up 6.6 per cent for the month, with food down three per cent.

Pub and bar groups saw sales rise 2.7 per cent in July but takings in restaurants were down 4.8 per cent, figures revealed.

Region wide, the average percentage of GDP earmarked for social spending in the ECLAC region rose from 10.1 per cent to 13.8 per cent.

Average fertility in the region is currently 2.5 children per woman.

The exception was the African region, where 33 per cent reported positively.

Parties in this region proposed 50 per cent of all forest sector projects.

Africa 23 countries, or 53 per cent of the countries in the region

Asia 21 countries, or 43 per cent of the countries in the region

Europe 30 countries, or 65 per cent of the countries in the region

The growth in construction was reflected in dramatic growth in the real estate industry, with the real estate market recording an annual sales volume of 245 million, representing a 68 per cent increase over 2003 sales.28

a Sales tax was payable at the rate of 35 cents per gallon except during March to May 2004 and April 2005.

Latin America 21 countries, or 64 per cent of the countries in the region

Arab States 19 countries, or 86 per cent of the countries in the region.

Throughout the 1990s, Asia remained the most favoured host region, accounting for about 47 per cent 52 per cent of OFDI from Singapore.

Retail sales in the Russian Federation totalled 194.6 billion in 2004, with the distribution sector's contribution to GDP amounting to 22 per cent.

E commerce is most prominent in manufacturing shipments, followed by wholesale trade (accounting for 21.1 and 13.1 per cent of total sales, respectively).

In 2004, the Latin America and Caribbean region collectively represented over 31 per cent of total programme expenditure (42 per cent in 2003) and 88 per cent of total local resources expenditure (87 per cent in 2003).

Total sales growth across pub and restaurants, including new openings, was 2.7 per cent in July, reflecting the slow down in brand roll outs.

When online sales using other networks (in particular EDI) are added, the value increases from 6.2 to 7.7 per cent over the same period.

However, the region is still experiencing literacy rates of only 67 per cent for its adult population and 75 per cent for its youth population.

No more than five representatives, who should be experienced in reporting shall be nominated per region.

No more than five representatives, who should be experienced in reporting, shall be nominated per region.

In recent years, GDP growth rates within the region have averaged less than 2 per cent.

The local comprehensive health care systems with the highest rates were Estelí (77 per cent), León (74.8 per cent) and Carazo (74.2 per cent), while those with the lowest rates were the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (45.9 per cent) and Jinotega (55 per cent).

Of the joint programmes and projects, 50 per cent were in Eastern and Southern Africa, 19 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean and 11 per cent in the CEE CIS region.

Furthermore, the region is home to 70 per cent of the illiterate population of the world (600 million persons), 65 per cent of whom are women.

Oil production continued to expand rapidly in the ESCWA region, rising to 19 billion barrels per day, an increase of 6 per cent over its 2003 level.

The economic benefits would therefore range from 3 to 34 per 1 invested, depending on the region.

In the rural part of the Pacific region, female headship went down among non poor households (from 19.5 per cent to 17.5 per cent), while it increased among poor households, particularly among the extremely poor (from 22.6 per cent to 27.0 per cent).

Both in Africa and the Arab region, intraregional trade remained mostly stagnant for decades representing some 10 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, of their trade volume.

Family planning indicators for the region show that 68.3 per cent of married or partnered women use modern contraceptives. Unmet demand for contraceptives stands at 21.4 per cent.

As far as industries are concerned, one quarter of all Internet sales took place in the wholesale trade sector, followed by transportation and warehousing (17 per cent).

Regarding online purchases, 27 per cent of EU 25 enterprises reported having placed orders over the Internet in 2004, almost double the level recorded for online sales.

China's average per capita income still ranks comparatively low on the world scale, and there remain great developmental imbalances between urban and rural areas, and from region to region.

The ratio of debt to exports was 83.4 per cent, likewise one of the lowest in the region.

For the ESCWA region as a whole (including Iraq and Palestine), 5.4 per cent real growth is expected.

As mentioned above, oil production continued to grow rapidly in the ESCWA region, expanding by 6 per cent from its 2003 level and generating 19 billion barrels per day.

In 2002, for example, China's retail market was worth 4,000 billion, larger than all non Japan Asian countries combined, and represented 5 per cent of worldwide retail sales.

(c) Trading shipping costs, sales price negotiation, terms of sales (Somalia)

The rate of sharing syringes has been as high as 50 per cent in some countries of the region.