Consumer Price Index (CPI) Expanded in February

In February, consumer price index (CPI) was up by 8.7 percent over the same month last year. Of the total, urban and rural areas rose 8.5 and 9.2 percent respectively. The price of foodstuff, non-foodstuff, consumable and services expanded 23.3, 1.6, 10.9, and 2.0 percent respectively. CPI made 2.6 percent growth over that in January of 2008.

In terms of different categories, the price of foodstuff increased 23.3 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of meat, poultry and their products surging 45.3 percent (of which, pork increased 63.4 percent), that of fresh vegetable, grain, oil or fat, aquatic products, milk and its products, outward dinner food, fresh fruits, fresh eggs, and flavoring expanded 46.0, 6.0, 41.0, 13.8, 16.4, 12.4, 8.7, 6.0, and 4.1 percent respectively.

The price of tobacco, liquor and articles was growing 2.4 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of tobacco and liquor rose by 0.3 and 6.4 percent respectively.

The price of clothing declined 1.4 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of garments dropped by 1.6 percent.

The price of household facilities, articles and services was up by 2.1 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of durable consumer goods, and household services, maintenance and renovation was jumping 0.8 and 8.5 percent respectively.

The price of health care and personal articles expanded 3.2 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and health care rose by 0.7, 10.7, and 0.5 percent respectively.

The price of transportation and communication dropped 1.4 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of transportation facility and communication facility was down by 3.0 and 19.9 percent respectively; that of the fuels and parts, fees for vehicles use and maintenance, intercity traffic fare, incity traffic fare surging 7.5, 0.5, 4.2, and 0.4 percent respectively.

The price of recreational, educational and cultural articles and services dropped 0.9 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of tuition and child care remained general level, that of the teaching materials and reference books, and cultural articles dropped 1.0 and 0.7 percent respectively, while that of expenditure on culture and recreation, and touring and outing was respectively up by 2.3 and 1.8 percent.

The price of residence grew up by 6.6 percent year-on-year. Of the total, the price of water, electricity and fuels, building and decoration materials, and renting jumping 6.5, 5.9, and 4.5 percent respectively.

Accumulated from January to February, the general level of CPI rose by 7.9 percent year-on-year. Of the total, CPIs of urban and rural areas surging 7.6 and 8.5 percent respectively; that of foodstuff, tobacco, liquor and articles, household services, maintenance, and renovation, health care and personal articles, and residence climbing 20.7, 2.3, 2.1, 3.2, and 6.4 percent respectively; while that of clothing, transportation and communication, and recreational, educational and cultural articles and services decreased 1.6, 1.2, and 0.6 percent respectively.

CPI kept sustained increasing this year, which continued the basic trend since the second half of last year. Excepted the price of foodstuff increased 7.1 percent, month-on-month, while that of growth rate of the others all under 0.5 percent in February. Deducted the advancing factor, the core price was up by 1.0 percent year-on-year, which remained the general level since the second half of previous year. The continued increasing of CPI from this year came of the cryogenic freezing rain and snow disasters, and the Spring Festival factors. According to the preliminary estimates, Spring Festival factor affecting CPI increased 0.53 percentage points, month-on-month, while that of cryogenic freezing rain and snow disasters stood at 1.03 percentage pints, deducted these two factors, CPI in February surging by 1.0 percent approximately, month-on-month. The international market prices continued surging significantly also affected the growth of CPI. The price of international crude oil climbing above 7.0 percent, and that of the metal and agricultural products increased 30-40 percent. Although the cryogenic freezing rain and snow disasters resulted in growth rate of current prices in a higher level, but new difficulties increased in the annual price control, which need to maintain calm mind, judge the situation correctly, and take effective measures to control the overall level of excessive increasing price, yet maintain the sound and rapid development the national economy.