In this article: China's National Bureau of Statistics reported slower-than-expected consumer price growth for the first 11 months, up 0.2 percent from a year earlier.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast prices would rise 0.3 percent in March, slightly higher than a year ago, instead of the 0.5 percent increase seen in March. Manufacturing prices fell for the 26th consecutive month, but the 2.5 percent drop in 11 months was less than the 2.8 percent forecast.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's 11-month consumer inflation slowed from forecasts and #rose just 0.2% from a year earlier. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected prices to rise 10% in 11 months, rather than 0.3% in the 0.5-month period.
China's producer price index has fallen for 26 consecutive months. The 2.5% drop in 11 months was less than the 2.8% drop predicted by Reuters analysts. The decline in industrial goods prices was also small compared with the same period last year. #Core inflation, excluding volatile fuel and food prices, rose 0.3% over 11 months, compared with a monthly rate of 0.2%.
pork and fresh vegetable prices rose 13.7% and 10%, respectively. Ferrous metal prices fell 7.1% and the consumer price index of industrial producers declined. Prices of chemical raw materials fell 5%, while fuel and electricity fell 6.5%.
Erica Tay, director of macroeconomic research at Maybank, said that China's consumer price index deflation, although slightly declining, is still quite persistent.
She told CNBC that the accumulated inventories of manufacturers and finished goods were large and rising month after month.
The steady retail inflation near zero indicates that China's economy is suffering from weak domestic demand as wholesale prices remain at deflationary levels, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a report. Domestic demand remained sluggish after 9 p. m.
Fitch Ratings downgraded China's GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 4.5% to 4.3% to 12.
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