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Published: 10:04, August 10, 2022 | Updated: 20:44, August 10, 2022
China consumer prices increase mildly, factory inflation eases
By Xinhua
Published:10:04, August 10, 2022 Updated:20:44, August 10, 2022 By Xinhua

A customer buys fresh vegetables at a supermarket in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Feb 16. China's consumer price index may continue to rise moderately in 2022. (SU YANG / FOR CHINA DAILY)

China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 2.7 percent year on year in July, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Wednesday.

Non-food prices rose 1.9 percent from a year earlier, easing from the 2.5-percent rise in June, the NBS data showed.

China's producer price index, which gauges factory-gate prices, increased 4.2 percent year-on-year in July, following a 6.1 percent rise from the previous month

The core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, gained 0.8 percent year on year in July, lower than the 1 percent increase in June.

On a monthly basis, the CPI inched up 0.5 percent due to rising pork and fresh vegetable prices, as well as seasonal factors, said Dong Lijuan, a senior statistician with the NBS.

Food prices went up 3 percent from the previous month, driving up the monthly consumer inflation by about 0.53 percentage points, according to the data.

READ MORE: China's inflation remains stable despite headwinds

Specifically, the price of pork, a staple meat in China, increased 25.6 percent month-on-month in July, partly due to the reluctance of some pork farmers to sell, while consumer demand recovered, said Dong.

Chen Guanghua, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said at a press conference in July that there would not be a "sustained and sharp increase" in hog prices as hog production is sufficient.

An employee works at a production facility of photovoltaic panels in Haian, Jiangsu province, on April 11. (PHOTO / CHINA DAILY)

In July, the price of fresh vegetables rose 10.3 percent month on month due to continuous high temperatures in many regions of the country, while the price of fresh fruit dropped by 3.8 percent because of increasing market supply.

Non-food prices declined 0.1 percent month on month, dragging the CPI down by 0.07 percentage points. Due to declining international oil prices, China's gasoline and diesel prices fell 3.4 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively.

The costs of air tickets, hotel accommodation and tourism rose 6.1 percent, 5 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, due to the increase in summer travels.

ALSO READ: Official: China capable of meeting 3-percent CPI target

Wednesday's data also showed that China's producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went up 4.2 percent year on year in July.

The figure moderated from the 6.1 percent year-on-year increase registered in June. On a monthly basis, China's PPI fell 1.3 percent last month.

As the monetary policies of major economies continue to tighten and international commodity prices decline, China faces less pressure from imported inflation, Wen Bin, Chief Economist with China Minsheng Bank, said in a co-authored research note.

However, he cautioned about uncertainties stemming from the global geopolitical situation.

Wen also estimated that China would see increasing pressure from structural inflation.


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