The consumer price level went up 1.3% year on year in this August, of which, that in the urban area rose 1.3%, and that in rural area climbed 1.4%, the price of foods went up 1.4%, that of non foods rose 1.3%, that of consumer goods went up 1.0%, that of services climbed 2.3%. Compared with last month, the consumer price level went up 0.3% over July.

Referenced with eight categories, the prices of foods rose 1.4% over last August. Especially, that of grain went up 3.1%, that of grease declined 1.9%, that of meat, poultry and their products dropped by 3.1%, that of fresh eggs descended 4.0%, that of aquatic products was up by 2.4% and that of fresh vegetables went down 0.1%.

The prices of tobacco, liquors and using articles rose 0.6%, of which, that of tobaccos went up 0.1%; that of liquors rose 1.5%.

The price of clothes went down 0.5% over last August, of which, that of clothes declined 1.0%.

The price of home equipment and repair services was up 1.5% over last August, especially, the price of durable consumer goods rose 1.4%, that of home services, processing and repairs went up 5.9%.

The price of medical treatment and health care went up 1.5% over last August, of which, that of western medicines dropped 1.7%, that of traditional Chinese medicine materials and Chinese prepared medicines rose 0.8%, and that of medical treatment and health care services rose 3.1%.

The price of transport and communications went up 0.1% over last August, specifically speaking, that of transport tools dropped by 2.6%, that of vehicle-used fuel and parts climbed 12.1%, that of using vehicles and repairs rose 3.2%, that of transport between cities went up 6.5%, that of transport in urban rose by 6.0%, that of communication devices went down 17.6%.

The price of recreational, educational and cultural articles and service dropped 0.1% over last August. Specifically speaking, that of tuition, miscellaneous fees and sending child to kindergartens went up 0.6%, that of recreational activities rose 2.8%, that of travel and going out went up 3.5%, and that of recreational durable consumer goods dropped 0.6%.

The price of housing went up 4.8%, especially, that of water, electricity and fuels went up 5.6%, that of building and upholstering materials rose 4.3%, that of renting houses was up 3.5%.

Added up from January to August of this year, the consumer price ascended 1.2% over the same period of last year.

(China Development Gateway September 11, 2006)