SHANGHAI, Oct 21 -- CHINA'S 1.3 billion people may spend more than 1 trillion yuan (US$126 billion) dining out this year, 13 percent more than a year ago, the country's Ministry of Commerce said.

On average, people may spend 800 yuan each this year wining and dining, compared with 680 yuan last year and 6 yuan in 1978, when China started economic reforms, the country's trade regulator said on its Website yesterday. Restaurant sales have grown more than 10 percent annually during the past 15 years.