BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- China's GDP will grow at an estimated rate of 8.5 to 9 percent in 2006, a study by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said Wednesday.

    China's consumption demand will witness approximate 12.5 percent growth in 2006 with the increasing income of citizens, the study published by the NDRC, the country's highest economic planning body, predicted.

    Investment, exports, imports and industrial production will slow down by about 20 percent, 15 percent, 18 percent and 15.5 percent, respectively, the study concluded.

    It also found that China's consumer price index (CPI) would fall to around 1 percent in 2006 as commodity price increases would slow down because of overcapacity, predicting the country would likely face slight deflation in the second half of 2006. Enditem