CPI 2020

In September 2020, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) went up by 1.7 percent year-on-year, with an increase of 1.6 percent in urban and 2.1 percent in rural. The food prices went up by 7.9 and the non-food prices unchanged. The prices of consumer goods went up by 2.6 percent, and that of services rose by 0.2 percent. From January to September, on average, the overall consumer prices were up by 3.3 percent from the same period of the previous year.

In September, national consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent month-on-month. Among them, the prices in urban and rural both went up by 0.2 percent; the prices of foodstuff and non-foodstuff increased by 0.4 and 0.2 percent; that of consumer goods increased by 0.2 percent and that of services rose by 0.3 percent.

I. Year-on-year changes of prices in different categories

In September, prices of food, tobacco and liquor went up by 6.4 percent year-on-year, affecting nearly 2.00 percentage points increase in the CPI. Of which, livestock meat price went up by 22.6 percent, affecting nearly 1.39 percentage points increase in the CPI (price of pork was up by 25.5 percent, affecting nearly 1.00 percentage point increase in the CPI); the price of fresh vegetables rose by 17.2 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.41 percentage point in total; that of aquatic products increased by 2.6 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.05 percentage point in total; that of grain rose by 1.5 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.03 percentage point in total;that of eggs went down by 15.8 percent, affecting the CPI down by about 0.11 percentage point; that of fresh fruits dropped by 6.9 percent, affecting the CPI down by 0.12 percentage point in total.

Prices in the other seven categories were 3 up 4 down year on year. In which, the prices of other goods and services, health care, education, culture and entertainment rose by 4.3, 1.5 and 0.7 percent; that of transportation and communications and housing decreased by 3.6 and 0.8 percent; and that of clothing and daily goods and services fell 0.4 and 0.1 percent.

II. Month-on-month changes of prices of different categories

In September, food, tobacco and alcohol prices went up by 0.3 percent month-on-month, affecting CPI increase by 0.10 percentage point. In which, the price of fresh fruits rose by 7.3 percent, affecting CPI up by 0.11 percentage point; that of fresh vegetables rose by 2.4 percent, affecting CPI up by 0.06 percentage point; that of eggs went up by 1.0 percent, affecting CPI up by 0.01 percentage point; that of aquatic products decreased by 0.9 percent, affecting CPI down by 0.02 percentage point totally; that of livestock meat dropped by 0.8 percent, affecting nearly 0.06 percentage point decrease in the CPI, in which the price of pork was down by 1.6 percent, affecting nearly 0.08 percentage point decrease in the CPI.

Other seven categories of prices rose 2 flat 3 and fell 2 month on month. Among them, the prices of clothing, education, culture and entertainment increased by 0.9 and 0.8 percent; that of housing, daily necessities and services, and health care all kept the same level; that of other supplies and services, transportation and communication decreased by 0.9 and 0.1 percent respectively.

Note:

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index measuring changes over time in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by residents. It serves as a  comprehensive reflection of changes in price levels.

CPI covers the prices of goods and services in eight categories and 262 basic divisions which cover the living needs of urban and rural residents, including food, tobacco and liquor; clothing; housing; household goods and services; transportation and communication; education, culture and recreation; healthcare; and other goods and services.