In May, the consumer price index (CPI) went up by 3.0 percent year-on-year. Of which, the prices grew by 3.0 percent in cities and 2.9 percent in rural areas. The food prices went up by 6.4 percent, while the non-food prices increased by 1.4 percent. The prices of consumer goods went up by 3.6 percent and the prices of services grew by 1.7 percent. In the first five months, the consumer price index (CPI) went up by 3.5 percent year-on-year.

In May, the month-on-month change of consumer prices went down by 0.3 percent. Of which, the prices dropped by 0.3 percent in cities and 0.3 percent in rural areas. The food prices went down by 0.8 percent, and the non-food prices remained the same level(the amount of change was 0). The prices of consumer goods went down by 0.4 percent, and the prices of services up by 0.1 percent.

I. Year-on-Year Changes of Prices of Different Categories

Food Prices went up by 6.4 percent year-on-year, contributing nearly 2.02 percentage points to the overall growth. Of which, fresh vegetables rose up 31.2 percent, contributing 0.78 percentage points; the prices of meat, poultry and related products rose by 5.1 percent, meaning 0.36 percentage points growth in the overall price level(price of pork was dropped by 0.6 percent, contributing 0.02 percentage points); the prices of aquatic products, up 11.3 percent, meaning 0.27 percentage points growth in the overall price level; grain, surged 3.4 percent, contributing 0.10 percentage points; grease, increased 6.0 percent, contributing 0.07 percentage points; fresh fruits, down 7.1 percent, contributing 0.16 percentage points; fresh eggs, down by 9.8 percent, contributing 0.08 percentage points.

Prices for tobacco and liquor went up by 3.3 percent year-on-year, of which, that of liquor was up by 7.3 percent and tobacco was up by 0.5 percent.

Prices for clothing rose by 3.1 percent year-on-year. The prices for clothes went up by 3.4 percent while the prices for shoes increased 1.9 percent.

Prices for household facilities, articles and maintenance services went up by 1.9 percent year-on-year, of which, prices for durable consumer goods was up by 0.5 percent, and household services and processing, maintenance services, up by 2.9 percent.

Prices for health care and personal articles grew by 2.1 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for medical apparatus and supplies increased 3.3 percent; traditional Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines, up 6.3 percent; western medicine went up by 0.5 percent; and health care services, up 0.5 percent.

Prices for transportation and communication dropped 0.1 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for fuels and parts for vehicles increased by 3.6 percent; vehicles use and maintenance, up 3.5 percent; intercity traffic fares, up 2.2 percent; incity traffic fares, up 1.7 percent; communication facilities, down by 12.8 percent; and transportation facilities, down 0.8 percent.

Prices for recreation, education, culture articles and services went up 0.2 percent year-on-year. Of which, touring and outing went up by 2.1 percent; recreation and culture, up 1.6 percent; education, up 1.2 percent; and durable consumer goods for recreational and cultural use and services, down by 5.8 percent.

Prices for residence went up by 1.6 percent year-on-year. Of which, prices for house renting rose by 2.2 percent; and water, electricity and fuel, up 1.3 percent; building and building decoration materials, up 1.1 percent.

According to estimation, in the 3.0 percent growth in May, the carryover effect of last year?¡¥s prices rising accounted for 1.7 percentage points, while new prices rising factors in this year accounted for 1.3 percentage points.

II. Month-on-Month Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In May, food prices went down 0.8 percent month-on-month, contributing 0.25 percentage points to the month-on-month growth of consumer prices. Of which, the prices of fresh vegetables dropped by 6.9 percent month-on-month, meaning 0.24 percentage points growth in the overall price level; prices for meat, poultry and related products decreased 1.4 percent, contributing 0.10 percentage points decreased in the overall price level (the prices of pork went down by 3.0 percent, meaning 0.10 percentage points dropping in the overall price level); the prices of aquatic products, up 0.4 percent, meaning 0.01 percentage points growth in the overall price level; price for eggs, up 0.3 percent; price for gain, increased 0.2 percent.

Non-food prices remained the same level (the amount of change was 0) month-on-month in May. Of this total, price for tobacco and liquor, clothing, household facilities, articles and maintenance services, health care and personal articles, went up by 0.2, 0.1, 0.1 and 0.1 percent respectively. Prices for transportation and communication, recreation, education, culture articles and services decreased 0.3 and 0.1 percent respectively. Prices for residence remained the same level. In residence, prices for water, electricity and fuel dropped by 0.7 percent, of which liquid gas and petroleum gas dropped 4.4 percent.