BEIJING - Profits of China's major industrial firms rose steadily in the first 10 months of the year, posting a 1.9-percent year-on-year increase, official data showed Thursday.

The cumulative growth rate has stayed positive for three consecutive months since August, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Industrial firms with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) saw their combined profits total 5.95 trillion yuan during the January-October period, the bureau said.