In November, the consumer price index (CPI) went up by 2.0 percent year-on-year. The prices grew by 2.1 percent in cities and 1.9 percent in rural areas. The food prices went up by 3.0 percent, while the non-food prices increased by 1.6 percent. The prices of consumer goods went up by 1.9 percent and the prices of services grew by 2.3 percent. On average from January to November, the overall consumer prices were up by 2.7 percent over the same period of the previous year.

In November, the month-on-month change of consumer prices was up by 0.1 percent, of which, prices increased 0.1 percent in cities and 0.2 percent in rural areas. The food prices went up by 0.4 percent, the non-food prices kept at the same level. The prices of consumer goods increased 0.3 percent, and the prices of services decreased 0.3 percent.

I. Year-on-Year Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In November, food prices went up by 3.0 percent year-on-year, affecting nearly 0.95 percentage points increase in the overall price level. Of which, the prices of fresh vegetables rose by 11.3 percent, meaning 0.27 percentage points growth in the overall price level; aquatic products, up by 4.9 percent, affecting nearly 0.12 percentage points increase in the overall price level; grain, up by 3.8 percent, affecting nearly 0.11 percentage points increase in the overall price level; grease, increased 4.1 percent, affecting nearly 0.05 percentage points increase in the overall price level; meat, poultry and related products down by 1.8 percent, affecting nearly 0.14 percentage points decrease in the overall price level (price of pork was down by 11.5 percent, affecting nearly 0.41 percentage points decrease in the overall price level); fresh fruits, down by 3.8 percent, affecting nearly 0.08 percentage points decrease in the overall price level.

Prices for tobacco and liquor went up by 1.7 percent year-on-year, of which, that of liquor was up by 3.3 percent and tobacco was up by 0.6 percent.

Prices for clothing rose by 2.3 percent year-on-year. The prices for clothes went up by 2.4 percent while the prices for shoes increased 1.7 percent.

Prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services went up by 1.5 percent year-on-year, of which, prices for household services and processing, maintenance services, up by 9.7 percent, and durable consumer goods remained at the same level.

Prices for health care and personal articles grew by 1.6 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for traditional Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines, up by 2.4 percent, medical apparatus and supplies increased 1.7 percent, health care services, up by 0.9 percent, and western medicine went up by 0.5 percent.

Prices for transportation and communication kept at the same level year-on-year. Of which, prices for vehicles use and maintenance, up by 5.0 percent, fuels and parts for vehicles, up by 3.9 percent, inter-city traffic fares, up by 1.5 percent, communication facilities, down by 11.1 percent, transportation facilities dropped by 1.2 percent.

Prices for recreation, education, culture articles and services grew by 0.9 percent year-on-year. Of which, education service, up by 2.6 percent, recreation and culture, up by 2.5 percent, touring and outing, up by 0.5 percent, durable consumer goods for recreational and cultural use and services, down by 5.0 percent.

Prices for residence went up by 2.6 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for water, electricity and fuel, up by 3.9 percent, house renting, up by 2.9 percent, building and building decoration materials rose by 0.4 percent.

According to estimation, in the 2.0 percent growth in November, the carryover effect of last year’s prices rising accounted for 0.3 percentage points, while new prices rising factors in this year accounted for 1.7 percentage points.

II. Month-on-Month Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In November, food prices rose by 0.4 percent month-on-month, contributing 0.11 percentage points to the month-on-month increase of consumer prices. In November, prices for fresh vegetables increased 3.5 percent, affecting nearly 0.09 percentage points increase in the overall price level; prices for meat, poultry and related products increased 0.4 percent, affecting nearly 0.03 percentage points increase in the overall price level (price of pork was down by 0.3 percent, affecting nearly 0.01 percentage points decrease in the overall price level); prices for grain increased 0.2 percent, affecting nearly 0.01 percentage points increase in the overall price level; fresh fruits, down by 1.1 percent, affecting nearly 0.02 percentage points decrease in the overall price level; aquatic products, decreased 0.5 percent, affecting nearly 0.01 percentage points decrease in the overall price level; eggs, went down by 0.4 percent.

Non-food prices kept at the same level in November, month-on-month. Of which, the month-on-month price for clothing increased 1.0 percent; that of household facilities, articles and maintenance services went up by 0.3 percent; that of residence increased 0.2 percent; that of tobacco and liquor, health care and personal articles, increased 0.1 percent; that of recreation, education, culture articles and services, decreased 0.9 percent; that of transportation and communication, went down by 0.3 percent. In view of residence, water, electricity and fuel prices went up by 0.4 percent.

Annotations:

1. Explanatory Notes

Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index measuring changes over time in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by residents, which comprehensively reflects the changes of price level.

2. Statistical Coverage

Consumer Price Index (CPI) covers the prices of goods and services of eight categories and 262 basic divisions which cover the living consumption of urban and rural residents, including food; tobacco, liquor and articles; clothing; household facilities, articles and maintenance services; health care and personal articles; transportation and communication; recreation, education, culture articles and services and residence. Data are collected from 63,000 prices collection units in 500 cities and counties of the 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), which cover grocery stores, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, professional markets, franchise houses, shopping centers, open fairs and service consuming units etc.

3. Survey Methods

The prices collection units are selected and determined by sample survey methods, and the original data of consumer prices are collected by specific person in fixed place at fixed time.