Business · Economy · 8 hrs ago

China’s producer prices rise 5.7% as consumer inflation slows

China’s producer prices rise 5.7% as consumer inflation slows

China’s producer prices rose 5.7% in October compared with a year earlier, up from 5% in September.

The increase was the fastest since June 2022, according to the figures from China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

Higher energy and raw-material costs helped push up prices, amid global energy uncertainty linked to conflict in the Middle East.

Consumer inflation slowed to 0.7%, from 0.9% in September, while underlying inflation also eased.

This means factory costs are not fully reaching consumers, as weak domestic demand limits companies’ ability to raise prices.

That leaves businesses facing pressure on profit margins and points to continuing weakness in China’s economy despite rising producer prices.

An economist cited in the coverage expects the price shock to keep inflation high in the coming months, then fade next year.

5 sources

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What people are saying

Nguyen Hoang NamChina economist at Capital Economics
The price shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East will keep inflation high in the coming months, but its impact is expected to ease next year.
via Asharq Al-Awsat
Zhang ZhiweiChief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management
The persistence of low consumer inflation reflects continued weakness in domestic demand.
via Asharq Al-Awsat