SALES of flat-screen TVs in China surged 71 percent year-on-year to 2.98 million sets in the first quarter, according to a report by Beijing-based CCID Consulting.

"The surge owes much to the upcoming 2008 Olympics as consumers brought forward their purchase plans and favored bigger sets," CCID senior analyst Tian Xiaona said. Sales of flat-screen TVs by value rose 60.6 percent year-on-year to 24.64 billion yuan (US$3.52 billion), CCID said. Flat screen TV sales will total 9.26 million sets in 2008, 11.57 million in 2009 and 15.71 million in 2010, CCID predicted.