Tag Archives: Consumer Price Index

Consumer Prices in China Jump 1.5% in January 2012, Led By Sharply Higher Food Prices

China’s National Bureau of Statistics has reported that the consumer price index rose by 1.5 percent month-over-month in January 2012 to an annual rate of 4.5 percent.  The annual rate of inflation had dipped to 4.1 percent in December 2011, as tighter monetary policy had brought the rate down from as high as 6.5 percent last summer. The sudden rise in inflation was led by yet another lurch higher in food prices, which increased 4.2 percent month-over-month.  Non-food prices rose just 0.2 percent.

The full press release follows:

Consumer Prices for January 2012
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2012-02-09 14:45:02

In January, the consumer price index (CPI) went up by 4.5 percent year-on-year. The prices grew by 4.5 percent in cities areas, and 4.6 percent in rural areas. The food prices went up by 10.5 percent while the non-food prices increased by 1.8 percent. The prices of consumer goods went up by 5.5 percent and the prices of services grew by 2.2 percent. In January, the month-on-month change of consumer prices was up by 1.5 percent. Of which, prices in cities and rural went up by 1.5 percent simultaneously. The food prices grew by 4.2 percent, the non-food prices increased by 0.2 percent. The prices of consumer goods rose by 1.8 percent, and the prices of services went up by 0.8 percent.

I. Year-on-Year Changes of Prices of Different Categories

 

Food Prices went up by 10.5 percent year-on-year, contributing nearly 3.29 percentage points to the overall growth. Of which, the prices of grain rose by 6.1 percent, meaning 0.17 percentage points growth in the overall price level; meat, poultry and related products, surged 18.7 percent, contributing 1.28 percentage points (price of pork was up by 25.0 percent, contributing 0.75 percentage points); fresh eggs, down by 2.0 percent, contributing 0.02 percentage points; the prices of aquatic products, up 13.2 percent, meaning 0.31 percentage points growth in the overall price level, fresh vegetables, up 23.0 percent, contributing 0.67 percentage points; and fresh fruits, up 2.3 percent, contributing 0.05 percentage points, grease, increased 6.1 percent, contributing 0.07 percentage points.

Prices for tobacco and liquor went up by 3.7 percent year-on-year, of which, that of tobacco was up by 0.3 percent and liquor was up by 8.8 percent.

Prices for clothing rose by 3.3 percent year-on-year. The prices for clothes went up by 3.4 percent while the prices for shoes increased 2.8 percent.

Prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services went up by 2.6 percent year-on-year, of which, prices for durable consumer goods was up by 0.6 percent, and household services and processing, maintenance services, up by 12.3 percent.

Prices for health care and personal articles grew by 2.6 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for medical apparatus and supplies increased 3.4 percent; traditional Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines, up 9.0 percent; western medicine went down by 0.5 percent; and health care services, up 0.5 percent.

Prices for transportation and communication rose by 0.2 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for transportation facilities dropped by 0.5 percent; fuels and parts for vehicles, up 5.9 percent; vehicles use and maintenance, up 5.0 percent; intercity traffic fares, up 3.3 percent; incity traffic fares, up 1.7 percent; and communication facilities, down by 14.0 percent.

Prices for recreation, education, culture articles and services grew by 0.7 percent year-on-year. Of which, education went up by 1.0 percent; recreation and culture, up 1.5 percent; touring and outing, up 6.6 percent; and durable consumer goods for recreational and cultural use and services, down by 6.4 percent.

Prices for residence went up by 1.9 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for water, electricity and fuel rose by 0.9 percent; building and building decoration materials, up 2.4 percent; and house renting, up 2.6 percent.

According to estimation, in the 4.5 percent growth in January, the carryover effect of last year’s prices rising accounted for 3.0 percentage points, while new prices rising factors in this year accounted for 1.5 percentage points.

II. Month-on-Month Changes of Prices of Different Categories

 

In January, food prices rose by 4.2 percent month-on-month, contributing 1.34 percentage points to the month-on-month growth of consumer prices. In January, prices for fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and aquatic products continued to increased 26.1, 5.6 and 7.2 percent month-on-month, prices growth of the above mentioned three items affecting 1.0 percentage points increase in the overall price level, prices for meat, poultry and related products climbed 0.24 percent (the prices of pork rose by 3.9 percent, meaning 0.14 percentage points growth in the overall price level), price for gain, increased 0.3 percent, contributing 0.01 percentage points growth in the overall price level, price for eggs, declined 0.8 percent, contributing 0.01 percentage points decreased in the overall price level

Non-food prices increased 0.2 percent in January, affecting 0.15 percentage points increase in the overall price level. Of this total, prices for recreation, education, culture articles and services, increased 1.1 percent, contributing 0.12 percentage points increased in the overall price level, which mainly due to the holiday impacts of 6.7 percent increase of travel prices. In addition, prices for tobacco and liquor, household facilities, articles and maintenance services, health care and personal articles, transportation and communication, and residence went up by 0.1, 0.4, 0.1, 0.4, and 0.2 percent respectively, while that of clothing decreased 1.0 percent.

Consumer Prices in January

Item

January

M/M (%)

Y/Y (%)

 
Consumer Prices

1.5

4.5

 Of which: Urban

1.5

4.5

     Rural

1.5

4.6

 Of which: Food

4.2

10.5

     Non food

0.2

1.8

 Of which: Consumer Goods

1.8

5.5

     Services

0.8

2.2

By Commodity Categories
 I. Food

4.2

10.5

  Grain

0.3

6.1

  Grease

0.2

6.1

  Meat, Poultry and Related Products

3.2

18.7

    Of which: Pork

3.9

25.0

  Eggs

-0.8

-2.0

  Aquatic Products

7.2

13.2

  Fresh Vegetables

26.1

23.0

  Fresh Fruits

5.6

2.3

  Milk and dairy Products

0.3

3.2

 II. Tobacco, Liquor and Articles

0.1

3.7

  Tobacco

0.0

0.3

  Liquor

0.2

8.8

 III. Clothing

-1.0

3.3

  Clothing

-1.1

3.4

  Shoes

-0.9

2.8

 IV. Household Facilities, Articles and Maintenance Services

0.4

2.6

  Durable Consumers

0.0

0.6

  Household Services and Processing, Maintenance Service

4.7

12.3

 V. Health Care and Personal Articles

0.1

2.6

  Chinese Herbal Medicines and Proprietary Chinese Medicines

0.0

9.0

  Western Medicines

0.0

-0.5

  Health Care Services

0.2

0.5

 VI. Transportation and Communication

0.4

0.2

  Transportation Facilities

0.1

-0.5

  Fuels and Parts for Vehicles

0.0

5.9

  Communication Facilities

-0.8

-14.0

  Communication Services

0.0

-0.3

 VII. Recreation, Education, Culture Articles and Services

1.1

0.7

  Education Services

0.1

1.0

  Tourism

6.7

6.6

 VIII. Residence

0.2

1.9

  Building and its Decoration Materials

0.2

2.4

  House Renting

0.3

2.6

  Water, Electricity, and Fuel

0.5

0.9

http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/newsandcomingevents/W020120209532335661148.jpg

Annotations:

 

1. Explanatory Notes

 

Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index measuring changes over time in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by residents, which comprehensively reflects the changes of price level.

 

2. Statistical Coverage

 

Consumer Price Index (CPI) covers the prices of goods and services of eight categories and 262 basic divisions which cover the living consumption of urban and rural residents, including food; tobacco, liquor and articles; clothing; household facilities, articles and maintenance services; health care and personal articles; transportation and communication; recreation, education, culture articles and services and residence. Data are collected from 63,000 prices collection units in 500 cities and counties of the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), which cover grocery stores, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, professional markets, franchise houses, shopping centers, open fairs and service consumption units etc.

 

3. Survey Methods

 

Original data of consumer prices are collected by specific person in fixed place at fixed time.

U.S. Consumer Price Index Unchanged in December 2011, +0.1% Ex-Food and Energy

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers was unchanged in December, as it was in November. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in December after increasing 0.2 percent in November. Over the last 12 months, inflation has been running at a 3.0 percent clip, down from 3.4 percent in November.

For more information, please click on the Inflation Measures page in the menu bar.

China’s Inflation Rate Eases to 4.1% in December 2011

China’s National Bureau of Statistics has reported that consumer price inflation rose at a 4.1 percent annual rate in December 2011.  This was lower than the 4.2 percent rate reported for November 2011 and sharply lower than that the 5.4 to 6.5 inflation rates seen the prior eight months.

Higher food costs continue to be the dominant driver of inflation in China.  For December, food prices rose 9.1 percent, while nonfood prices saw only a 1.9 percent increase.

On a month-over-month basis, consumer prices rose 0.3 percent, led by a 1.2 percent rise in food prices. In December, nonfood prices decreased by 0.1 percent.

The full press release follows:

Consumer Prices for December 2011
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2012-01-12 14:03:55
In December, the consumer price index (CPI) went up by 4.1 percent year-on-year. The prices grew by 4.1 percent both in cities and in rural areas. The food prices went up by 9.1 percent while the non-food prices increased by 1.9 percent. The prices of consumer goods went up by 4.9 percent and the prices of services grew by 2.0 percent. In December, the month-on-month change of consumer prices was up by 0.3 percent. Of which, prices in cities and rural went up by 0.3 percent simultaneously. The food prices grew by 1.2 percent while the non-food prices decreased by 0.1 percent. The prices of consumer goods rose by 0.5 percent, and the prices of services went down by 0.2 percent. The CPI in 2011 was went up by 5.4 percent over the previous year.

I. Year-on-Year Changes of Prices of Different Categories

Food Prices went up by 9.1 percent year-on-year, contributing nearly 2.79 percentage points to the overall growth. Of which, the prices of grain rose by 6.9 percent, meaning 0.19 percentage points growth in the overall price level; meat, poultry and related products, surged 16.6 percent, contributing 1.12 percentage points (price of pork was up by 21.3 percent, contributing 0.64 percentage points); fresh eggs, up 1.2 percent, contributing 0.01 percentage points; aquatic products, up 9.7 percent, contributing 0.22 percentage points; fresh vegetables, up 11.5 percent, contributing 0.30 percentage points; and fresh fruits, up 4.4 percent, contributing 0.09 percentage points, grease, increased 6.6 percent, contributing 0.08 percentage points.

Prices for tobacco and liquor went up by 3.9 percent year-on-year, of which, that for tobacco was up by 0.4 percent and liquor 9.2 percent.

Prices for clothing rose by 3.8 percent year-on-year. The prices for clothes went up by 3.9 percent while the prices for shoes increased by 3.1 percent.

Prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services went up by 2.5 percent year-on-year, of which, prices for durable consumer goods was up by 0.6 percent, and household services and processing, maintenance services, up by 10.2 percent.

Prices for health care and personal articles grew by 2.8 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for western medicine went down by 0.6 percent; traditional Chinese medicine, up 9.7 percent; and health care services, up 0.5 percent.

Prices for transportation and communication rose by 0.3 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for transportation facilities dropped by 0.4 percent; fuels and parts for vehicles, up 8.1 percent; vehicles use and maintenance, up 4.5 percent; intercity traffic fares, up 2.4 percent; incity traffic fares, up 1.7 percent; and communication facilities, down by 13.9 percent.

Prices for recreation, education, culture articles and services grew by 0.1 percent year-on-year. Of which, education went up by 0.9 percent; recreation and culture, up 1.2 percent; touring and outing, up 3.2 percent; and durable consumer goods for recreational and cultural use and services, down by 6.6 percent.

Prices for residence went up by 2.1 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for water, electricity and fuel rose by 0.7 percent; building and building decoration materials, up 2.4 percent; and house renting, up 2.9 percent.

In December, the carryover effect of last year’s prices disappeared, while new prices rising factors in this year accounted for 4.1 percentage points.

II. Month-on-Month Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In December, food prices rose by 1.2 percent month-on-month, contributing 0.37 percentage points to the month-on-month growth of consumer prices. In December, prices for fresh vegetables and aquatic products continued to increased 13.9 and 0.9 percent month-on-month (the month-on-month changes were 6.0 and 0.7 percent in November), prices growth of the above mentioned two items affecting 0.36 percentage points increase in the overall price level, price for fresh fruits rose by 2.7 percent (narrowed 4.1 percentage points growth over November), affecting 0.05 percentage points increased in the overall price level, prices for meat, poultry and related products, and eggs dropped 0.8 and 1.7 percent, prices growth of the above mentioned two items affecting 0.07 percentage points decrease in the overall price level, price for grease declined 0.2 percent. In December, the price for pork went down by 2.0 percent, resulted in 3.3 percentage point down month-on-month.

Non-food prices decreased 0.1 percent in December, affecting 0.06 percentage points decrease in the overall price level. Of this total, prices for tobacco and liquor, and clothing increased 0.3 and 0.4 percent, prices for health care and personal articles, transportation and communication, recreation, education, culture articles and services, and residence went down by 0.1, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.2 percent respectively, while that of household facilities, articles and maintenance services maintained the same level.

Consumer Prices in December and the Whole Year of 2011

Item

December

Year 2011

M/M (%)

Y/Y (%)

Growth Rate
(%)

 

Consumer Prices

0.3

4.1

5.4

 Of which: Urban

0.3

4.1

5.3

     Rural

0.3

4.1

5.8

 Of which: Food

1.2

9.1

11.8

     Non food

-0.1

1.9

2.6

 Of which: Consumer Goods

0.5

4.9

6.2

     Services

-0.2

2.0

3.5

By Commodity Categories

 Food

1.2

9.1

11.8

 Tobacco, Liquor and Articles

0.3

3.9

2.8

 Clothing

0.4

3.8

2.1

 Household Facilities, Articles and Maintenance Services

0.0

2.5

2.4

 Health Care and Personal Articles

-0.1

2.8

3.4

 Transportation and Communication

-0.1

0.3

0.5

 Recreation, Education, Culture Articles and Services

-0.3

0.1

0.4

 Residence

-0.2

2.1

5.3

 

 

 

Notes:

1. Explanation of Indicator. Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index measuring changes over time in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by residents, which comprehensively reflects the changes of price level.

2. Statistical Coverage. Consumer Price Index (CPI) covers the prices of goods and services of eight categories and 262 basic divisions which cover the living consumption of urban and rural residents, including food; tobacco, liquor and articles; clothing; household facilities, articles and maintenance services; health care and personal articles; transportation and communication; recreation, education, culture articles and services and residence. Data are collected from 63,000 prices collection units in 500 cities and counties of the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), which cover grocery stores, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, professional markets, franchise houses, shopping centers, open fairs and service consumption units etc.

3. Data Collection. Original data of consumer prices are collected by specific person in fixed place at fixed time.

4. From January 2011, the CPI calculation in China began to take 2010 as the base year. It was the second routine adjustment since the adoption of fixed-base price index in 2001. The first round base year was 2000, as changing every five years, the second round base year was 2005.

5. In accordance with the data of national survey of urban and rural household consumption expenditure in 2010 and data of other surveys conducted by relevant departments, the National Bureau of Statistics made a routine adjustment of the weights of CPI from January 2011. By using the new weights, the consumer price index in December went up by 4.070 percent year-on-year, or 0.312 percent month-on-month, while it was up 4.182 percent year-on-year, or 0.325 percent month-on-month if the former weights were used.

U.S. Consumer Price Index Unchanged In November 2011 on Lower Energy Costs

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Statistics has reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers was unchanged in November 2011 after decreasing 0.1 percent in October. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in November after increasing 0.1 percent in October.

The gasoline index fell sharply, offsetting increases in housing, medical care, clothing and personal care.

Over the past twelve months, the CPI-U has risen 3.4 percent.  Excluding food and energy, the 12-month price increase is 2.2 percent.

For more information, please click on the Inflation Measures page in the menu bar.

China’s Inflation Rate Eases Significantly to +4.2% in November 2011

It appears that China has employed tighter monetary policy effectively, as the consumer price index for November 2011 showed a significant improvement to +4.2 percent on an annual basis. This was a dramatic decline from the +5.5 percent inflation rate in October. On a month-over-month basis, inflation declined 0.2 percent.

China’s central bank had been tightening monetary policy for almost three years, sparking concerns that the fight against inflation could result in a severe economic slowdown.  However, now that inflation appears to be easing, People’s Bank of China has room to reverse course and encourage growth once again. In fact, last week, China’s central bank cut the reserve ratio for banks—the amount of money they must deposit with the central bank and not lend out—in what economists expect will be the first of a series of measures to loosen macroeconomic policy as inflation declines and growth slows.

The full press release from China’s statistical bureau follows:

Consumer Prices for November 2011
National Bureau of Statistics of China 2011-12-09 15:45:16

In November, the consumer price index went up by 4.2 percent year-on-year. The prices grew by 4.2 percent in cities and 4.3 percent in rural areas. The food prices went up by 8.8 percent while the non-food prices increased by 2.2 percent. The prices of consumer goods went up by 5.3 percent and the prices of services grew by 2.4 percent. In November, the month-on-month change of consumer prices was down by 0.2 percent. Of which, prices in cities and rural areas went down by 0.2 percent simultaneously. The food prices dropped 0.8 percent while the non-food prices increased by 0.1 percent. The prices of consumer goods decreased 0.2 percent, and the prices of services went down by 0.3 percent. From January to November, the consumer price index increased 5.5 percent over the same period of the previous year.

I. Year-on-Year Changes of Prices of Different Categories

Food Prices went up by 8.8 percent year-on-year, contributing nearly 2.70 percentage points to the overall growth. Of which, the prices of grain rose by 8.9 percent, meaning 0.25 percentage point growth in the overall price level; meat, poultry and related products, surged 19.6 percent, contributing 1.31 percentage points (price of pork was up by 26.5 percent, contributing 0.78 percentage points); fresh eggs, up 4.4 percent, contributing 0.04 percentage point; aquatic products, up 10.8 percent, contributing 0.24 percentage point; fresh vegetables, down 11.0 percent, fresh fruits, up 10.8 percent, contributing 0.20 percentage point, and grease, increased 8.9 percent, contributing 0.11 percentage point.

Prices for tobacco, liquor and articles went up by 3.8 percent year-on-year, of which, that for tobacco was up by 0.4 percent and liquor 9.1 percent.

Prices for clothing rose by 3.5 percent year-on-year. The clothes prices went up by 3.6 percent while the shoes prices increased by 2.7 percent.

Prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services went up by 2.9 percent year-on-year, of which, prices for durable consumer goods was up by 1.0 percent, and household services, maintenance and renovation up by 11.6 percent.

Prices for health care and personal articles grew by 3.2 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for western medicine went down by 0.6 percent; traditional Chinese medicine, up 11.1 percent; and health care services, up 0.6 percent.

Prices for transportation and communication rose by 0.5 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for transportation facilities dropped by 0.2 percent; fuels and parts for vehicles, up 9.2 percent; fees for vehicles use and maintenance, up 4.6 percent; intercity traffic fares up 2.9 percent; incity traffic fares up 1.7 percent; and communication facilities down by 13.5 percent.

Prices for recreation, education, culture articles and services grew by 0.1 percent year-on-year. Of which, education went up by 0.8 percent; cultural and recreational articles up 1.4 percent; touring and outing up 3.3 percent; and durable goods for cultural and recreational use and services down by 6.4 percent.

Prices for residence went up by 3.3 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for water, electricity and fuels rose by 1.3 percent; prices for building and building decoration materials up 3.4 percent; prices for renting up 3.7 percent.

According to estimation, in the 4.2 percent growth in November, the carryover effect of last year’s prices rising accounted for 0.5 percentage points, while new prices rising factors in this year accounted for 3.7 percentage points. The year-on-year growth rate of CPI in November declined 1.3 percentage points compared with that of October, mainly affected by two reasons: first, the higher cardinal number of last year, carryover effect in November significantly reduced; second, month-on-month prices for vegetables, meat, poultry and related products went down, thus driving the consumer price index decreased by 0.25 percentage points.

II. Month-on-Month Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In November, food prices down by 0.8 percent month-on-month, contributing 0.25 percentage point to the month-on-month growth of consumer prices. In November, price for fresh vegetables continued to decline 6.0 percent month-on-month, affecting 0.15 percentage points decrease in the overall price level. Price for meat, poultry and related products decreased 2.6 percent (that for pork declined 5.3 percent, 3.5 percentage points decrease compared with October.), price for fresh eggs dropped 4.0 percent, price for aquatic products declined 0.7 percent. Price changes of the above mentioned three items contributed 0.27 percentage points decrease to the overall price level. Price for grease decreased 0.1 percent (promoted 0.5 percentage point month-on-month), price for fresh fruits increased 6.8 percent (expanded 1.1 percentage points month-on-month), contributed 0.12 percentage points increase to the overall price level.

Non-food prices climbed 0.1 percent in November, affecting 0.07 percentage points increase in the overall price level. Of this total, prices for tobacco, liquor and articles, clothing, household facilities, articles and maintenance services, health care and personal articles, rose by 0.3, 1.4, 0.3, and 0.2 percent respectively. Effected by the impacts on tourism market, and after the off-season attraction tickets and travel prices in November, price for recreation, education, culture articles and service, transportation and communication, dropped 0.8 and 0.3 percent, respectively, price for housing remained general level.

Consumer Prices in November

Item

November

Jan-Nov

M/M (%)

Y/Y (%)

Y/Y (%)

 

Consumer Prices

-0.2

4.2

5.5

Of which: Urban

-0.2

4.2

5.4

Rural

-0.2

4.3

6.0

Of which: Food

-0.8

8.8

12.1

Non food

0.1

2.2

2.7

Of which: Consumer Goods

-0.2

5.0

6.3

Services

-0.3

2.4

3.6

Commodity Categories

    Food

-0.8

8.8

12.1

    Tobacco, Liquor and Articles

0.3

3.8

2.7

    Clothing

1.4

3.5

2.0

    Household Facilities, Articles and Maintenance Services

0.3

2.9

2.4

    Health Care and Personal Articles

0.2

3.2

3.4

Transportation and Communication

-0.2

0.5

0.5

    Recreation, Education, Culture Articles and Services

-0.8

0.1

0.4

    Housing

0.0

3.0

5.6

Notes:

1. Explanation of Indicator. Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index measuring changes over time in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by residents, which comprehensively reflects changes of price level.

2. Statistical Coverage. Consumer Price Index (CPI) covers the prices of goods and services of eight categories and 262 basic divisions which cover the living consumption of urban and rural residents, including food; tobacco, liquor and articles; clothing; household facilities, articles and maintenance services; health care and personal articles; transportation and communication; recreation, education, culture articles and services and housing. Data are collected from 63,000 prices collection units in 500 cities and counties of the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), which cover grocery stores, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, professional markets, franchise houses, shopping centers, open fairs and service consumption units etc.

3. Data Collection. Original data of consumer prices are collected by specific person in fixed place at fixed time.

4. From January 2011, the CPI calculation in China began to take 2010 as the base year. It was the second routine adjustment since the adoption of fixed-base price index in 2001. The first round base year was 2000, as changing every five years, the second round base year was 2005.

5. In accordance with the data of national survey of urban and rural household consumption expenditure in 2010 and data of other surveys conducted by relevant departments, the National Bureau of Statistics made a routine adjustment of the weights of CPI from January 2011. By using the new weights, the consumer price index in November went up by 4.225 percent year-on-year, or 0.189 percent month-on-month, while it was up 4.307 percent year-on-year, or 0.184 percent month-on-month if the former weights were used.