In January, China's overall consumer price index (CPI) rose by 1.5 percent year on year, with the urban CPI up by 1.4 percent and the rural index increasing by 1.8 percent.
China's producer price index (PPI) for industrial products in the month of January increased by 4.3 percent from a year earlier. Purchase prices for raw materials, fuel and power rose by eight percent. Meanwhile, the purchase price for large-sized common carbon steel products is down by 7.9 percent year on year, the purchase price for medium-sized common carbon steel products is down by 1.5 percent, while the price for small-sized common carbon steel products is down by 3.4 percent. The purchase price for medium plate declined by 4.0 percent year on year , with the price for wire rod up by 5.5 percent.