China CIP falls to its lowest in a year

BEIJING, Mar 10 (AFP): The consumer price index (CPI) in China fell to its lowest level in a year last month, while producer prices hardly budged, according to figures published by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The CPI - a key measure of retail inflation - rose just 1.5 per cent in February year-on-year, compared with 1.7 per cent in January. It has now declined for four consecutive months and is at its lowest point since January 2018.

China is grappling with a decline in global demand - notably from the United States, which launched a trade war against Beijing last summer.

Growth in China dropped to 6.6 per cent last year, its lowest level in 28 years. The government this week announced it is aiming for growth of between just six and 6.5 per cent this year.

The producer price index (PPI) - an important barometer of domestic demand - edged up by only 0.1 per cent in February, in a further sign the Asian giant's economy is slowing.

That figure, matching January results, is the lowest for more than two years. The indicator has been in constant retreat for seven months.

The increase in consumer prices is in line with analyst forecasts, but the rise in producer prices is weaker than expected.