China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.2 percent in September
over a year earlier, ebbing slightly from the 5.3 percent increase
in July and August, which might relax the nation's inflation
pressure to some extent.
Food price, with a growth rate of 13.0 percent in September,
continued to serve as the major impetus to boost the CPI increase
despite its slower year-to-year growth rate than those of the
previous two months, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Sunday.
In the month, the price of grains grew 31.7 percent, fresh eggs
grew 28.1 percent, meat and meat products 22.4 percent, and fresh
vegetables 1.0 percent over the previous
September,????
Continued price rise of housing is another factor boosting the
price rise in September, with a year-on-year growth rate of 6.4
percent, compared with the 6.0 percent and 5.0 percent growth in
August and July respectively.
The price of water, electricity and fuel increased 10.5 percent
year-on-year, and the price of construction and fitment materials
increased 5.4 percent, both higher than the figures of the previous
two months. The price of rent grew 3.0 percent, decreasing slightly
than that of August.
Price of communication and transportation equipment decreased
16.0 percent and 3.5 percent respectively year-on-year in
September, but the price of inter-city transportation climbed 2.9
percent as the price of automobile fuels and parts increased 13.7
percent.
The year-on-year CPI growth in rural areas continued to be
faster than that in urban areas in September, which were 6.4
percent and 4.5 percent respectively.
According to NBS statistics, China's CPI increased 4.1 percent
in the first three quarters over the same period of last year,
higher than the 3 percent target set by China for the whole
year.
(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2004)