emirates7 - China's consumer prices declined at a slower rate in March, while factory-gate prices saw a deeper annual drop, according to official data released Thursday.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI)—a key indicator of inflation—fell by 0.1% year-on-year in March, improving from a 0.7% decline in February.
As noted by *China Daily*, food prices within the CPI saw a 1.4% year-on-year decrease in March, compared to a sharper 3.3% fall in February.
On a monthly basis, the CPI slipped by 0.4% in March, following a 0.2% decline the previous month.
Meanwhile, core CPI—which excludes food and energy prices to better reflect supply and demand conditions—increased by 0.5% year-on-year in March, a rebound from the 0.1% decline recorded in February.
According to NBS statistician Dong Lijuan, the month-on-month CPI dip was primarily due to ample food supplies supported by warmer weather, reduced travel-related costs during the off-season, and lower global oil prices.
Dong also pointed to encouraging signs in the data, including the slower pace of the CPI decline and the rise in core CPI. These trends suggest that government efforts to stimulate consumer spending are beginning to take effect, while the temporary impact of the Spring Festival holiday timing has started to subside.
In contrast, China's Producer Price Index (PPI), which reflects prices at the factory level, dropped 2.5% year-on-year in March—deeper than February's 2.2% fall.
Month-on-month, the PPI decreased by 0.4% in March, after a 0.1% in February.
Dong attributed the decline in factory-gate prices to several factors, including falling prices for domestic petroleum products, seasonal drops in demand for energy items like coal, weaker export-related sectors, and lower prices across multiple raw materials.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI)—a key indicator of inflation—fell by 0.1% year-on-year in March, improving from a 0.7% decline in February.
As noted by *China Daily*, food prices within the CPI saw a 1.4% year-on-year decrease in March, compared to a sharper 3.3% fall in February.
On a monthly basis, the CPI slipped by 0.4% in March, following a 0.2% decline the previous month.
Meanwhile, core CPI—which excludes food and energy prices to better reflect supply and demand conditions—increased by 0.5% year-on-year in March, a rebound from the 0.1% decline recorded in February.
According to NBS statistician Dong Lijuan, the month-on-month CPI dip was primarily due to ample food supplies supported by warmer weather, reduced travel-related costs during the off-season, and lower global oil prices.
Dong also pointed to encouraging signs in the data, including the slower pace of the CPI decline and the rise in core CPI. These trends suggest that government efforts to stimulate consumer spending are beginning to take effect, while the temporary impact of the Spring Festival holiday timing has started to subside.
In contrast, China's Producer Price Index (PPI), which reflects prices at the factory level, dropped 2.5% year-on-year in March—deeper than February's 2.2% fall.
Month-on-month, the PPI decreased by 0.4% in March, after a 0.1% in February.
Dong attributed the decline in factory-gate prices to several factors, including falling prices for domestic petroleum products, seasonal drops in demand for energy items like coal, weaker export-related sectors, and lower prices across multiple raw materials.