(Jan 9): China’s consumer price growth accelerated last month thanks largely to higher food costs, as deflationary risks stalk the world’s second-biggest economy in the absence of more forceful stimulus measures. Producer prices slipped slightly less than forecast and fell 1.9% — their 39th straight month of declines but the smallest decrease in over a year. China’s core CPI, which excludes volatile items such as energy, grew 1.2% for the third straight month and non-food inflation remained unchanged at 0.8%. Dong Lijuan, an NBS analyst, acknowledged that the pickup in the CPI last month was mainly driven by faster increases in food prices. Progress has been limited in part because of government concerns over the risk of job losses and weaker economic growth.

Source: The Edge Markets January 09, 2026 03:52 UTC