China's CPI rises 1.8 percent in July

China’s CPI rises 1.8 percent in July

China's consumer price index (CPI) increased slightly in July as the government raised fuel and electricity prices. Data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that the country's CPI rose 1.8 percent year on year July. CPI had risen 1.6 percent in June. Declines in costs of grain and consumer goods over the past three months helped keep inflation in check and allowed the government to raise fuel and electricity prices. The costs of gasoline, diesel and car parts rose 11.6 percent in July, while utility prices, which include electricity charges, increased 8.9 percent. Food prices, which account for a third of the consumer price index, rose 2.3 percent last month. On the other hand, grain prices fell 0.9 percent.