A citizen buys vegetables at a supermarket in Handan City, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 9, 2020. China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 2.9 percent year on year in 2019, within government target of 3 percent, official data showed Thursday. (Photo: Xinhua)

The CPI, a main gauge of inflation, declined by 0.3 percent in January from the same period last year, compared with December 2020's 0.2-percent gain, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.

A mild rise in food prices was offset by price declines in clothing, housing, transportation and communication.

As the Spring Festival holidays are coming later in 2021 than 2020, the CPI data is being affected by a relatively high base recorded from January 2020, the NBS said. 

Food prices still recorded a gain, led by a 10.9 percent increase year-on-year in fresh vegetable prices. 

However, the January CPI was moderated by a 3.9 percent decline in pork prices, and prices for transportation and communication services were also down 4.6 percent year-on-year.

There was a slight increase in medical and health services.

China's Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures factory-gate prices, rose by 0.3 percent year-on-year in January, compared with a 0.4-percent fall in December 2020.

The NBS said the rise is highlighted by increases in the iron smelting, coal mining and nonferrous metals smelting sectors.

Global Times