BEIJING -- Most of China's chain store operators have confidence in recording sales growth in 2019, according to a survey by the China Chain Store & Franchise Association (CCFA).

Of 45 major chain store operators in retail, catering and life service sectors polled last month, 85 percent expect higher same-store sales this year than last, the CCFA said.

In breakdown, 36 percent of the respondents believe their same-store sales will increase by less than 5 percent, 29 percent expect growth of 5 percent-10 percent, while 20 percent predict a gain of higher than 10 percent.

Only 4 percent said sales were likely to decline, by no more than 5 percent. The remaining 11 percent expect flat sales.

In the meantime, all surveyed chain enterprises expressed intentions to expand their business through opening new stores this year.

The survey also showed that information system construction, store upgrading, and opening new stores were the top three investment priorities for chain enterprises in 2019.