China August inflation cools more than expected

BEIJING, Sept 11 (Reuters): China's consumer inflation cooled more than expected in August, further evidence that the economy is losing momentum, but economists are divided over whether Beijing will use the extra room to announce fresh stimulus measures.The consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.0 per cent in August from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday, missing market expectations for 2.2 per cent and down from 2.3 per cent in July.

The producer price index fell 1.2 per cent, its 30th consecutive monthly decline, as weak economic conditions continue to rob Chinese companies of pricing power.