The consumer price level went up 1.5% year on year in this September, of which, that in the urban area rose 1.6%, and that in rural area climbed 1.4%, the price of foods went up 2.4%, that of non foods rose 1.1%, that of consumer goods went up 1.5%, that of services climbed 1.5%. Compared with last month, the consumer price level went up 0.5% over August.

Referenced with eight categories, the prices of foods rose 2.4% over last September. Especially, that of grain went up 3.4%, that of grease declined 0.2%, that of meat, poultry and their products dropped by 0.5%, that of fresh eggs rose 0.8%, that of aquatic products was up by 1.2% and that of fresh vegetables went up 7.8%.

The prices of tobacco, liquors and using articles rose 0.8%, of which, that of tobaccos went up 0.2%; that of liquors rose 1.8%.

The price of clothes went down 0.5% over last September, of which, that of clothes declined 0.9%.

The price of home equipment and repair services was up 1.7% over last September, especially, the price of durable consumer goods rose 1.5%, that of home services, processing and repairs went up 5.7%.

The price of medical treatment and health care went up 1.3% over last September, of which, that of western medicines dropped 2.0%, that of traditional Chinese medicine materials and Chinese prepared medicines rose 1.0%, and that of medical treatment and health care services rose 2.4%.

The price of transport and communications went up 0.2% over last September, specifically speaking, that of transport tools dropped by 2.5%, that of vehicle-used fuel and parts climbed 12.0%, that of using vehicles and repairs rose 3.1%, that of transport between cities went up 6.6%, that of transport in urban rose by 5.7%, that of communication devices went down 17.4%.

The price of recreational, educational and cultural articles and service dropped 1.4% over last September. Specifically speaking, that of tuition, miscellaneous fees and sending child to kindergartens went down 1.7%, that of recreational activities rose 2.6%, 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 5.0%, especially, that of water, electricity and fuels went up 5.8%, that of building and upholstering materials rose 4.4%, that of renting houses was up 3.8%.

Added up from January to September of this year, the consumer price ascended 1.3% over the same period of last year.

(China Development Gateway October 23, 2006)