BEIJING, Apr 3: Chinese salaries are rising faster than inflation, thanks to a near doubling of pay by foreign-in-vested. and private enterprises. ' an official report said Sunday, reports AP.

In January and February. China's total payroll outlay was 82.9 billion yuan (9.56 billion dollar), up 26.3 per cent from the same period last year, the China Daily's Business Weekly reported, citing figures from the State Statistics Admffils-tratlon.

Retail prices nationwide rose 20 per cent in January and February from a year ear Iler.

The report did not say what the average monthly salary was. But it said government employees and workers in state-owned enterprises were paid a total of nearly 65 billion yuan . (7.5 billion dollar), up 25.8 per cent. (