By Jiang Yunzhang (降蘊彰)
Economic Observer Online
Sep 29, 2011
Translated by Zhu Na
Original Article: [Chinese]

According to the latest data released by Ministry of Commerce, prices of key agricultural products have continued to rise in recent weeks, raising concerns that the pace of the year-on-year increase in China's consumer price index (CPI) for September might have increased again, after falling to 6.2% in August from 6.5% in July.

Ma Wenfeng, a senior Analyst with Beijing Orient Agribusiness Consultant Ltd (BOAC), predicted that the CPI in September will increase by around 6.3 percent year-on-year. Ma also predicted that the PPI might fall slightly, expecting at 7.0% or so.

From Sep 19-25, the average wholesale price of 18 kinds of vegetables increased 4.2% compared to the previous week. Tomatoes topped the list, rising 13.6% over the week.

The price of garlic and ginger decreased 4.6% and 1.3% respectively.

The retail price of grain and cooking oil also increased slightly as did rice and flour prices.