China's consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, rose 7.9 percent in the first half over the same period last year, 0.2 percentage points lower than the first five months, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.

The figure, compared with 7.1 percent in June, 7.7 percent in May, 8.5 percent in April and a 12-year-high of 8.7 percent in February, was broadly in line with most forecasts.

The prices rose by 7.6 percent in cities and 8.6 percent in rural areas. Grouped by commodity categories, prices for food rose 20.4 percent, contributing 6.64 percentage points to the overall CPI rise and prices for housing were up 6.9 percent, contributing 1.02 percentage points.

Prices for other categories of commodities rose or dropped slightly.

Yao Jingyuan, chief economist of the bureau, attributed the slowdown of CPI growth to the government's efforts to curb inflation.

The government has introduced a wide-range of measures, including increased fiscal support for grain and food production, and raised the required reserve ratio for commercial banks. But the central bank has not raised interest rates to rein in investment growth so far this year.

Rising PPI

Despite a drop in the CPI growth, the producer price index (PPI), which measures the value of finished products when they leave the factory, rose 7.6 percent during the first half, said the bureau.

The growth rate was 4.8 percentage points higher than the same period last year. The PPI rose 8.8 percent in June from a year earlier, compared with 8.2 percent in May.

Meanwhile, the purchaser prices for raw materials, fuel and power rose 11.1 percent. The growth rate was 7.3 percentage points higher than a year earlier.

Li Xiaochao, spokesman of the bureau, said the rising PPI imposed greater pressures on inflation and the latest oil and power price rises could add to the pressure.

Export growth down, FDI up

During the first half, the value of exports was US$666.6 billion, up 21.9 percent. The growth rate was 5.7 percentage points lower than the same period last year.

"Many export-oriented companies could face increasing pressures in the second half of this year due to uncertainties in the global economy," said Zhang Liqun, a macro-economist at the Development Research Center of the State Council, the Cabinet.

The country had a trade surplus of US$99 billion, a decrease of US$13.2 billion over the same period last year.

The total value of foreign direct investment (FDI) actually utilized was US$52.4 billion, up 45.6 percent. The growth was 33.4 percentage points higher than a year earlier.

By the end of June, the foreign exchange reserves stood at US$1,808.8 billion, up by 35.7 percent.

Problems remain

Inflation was expected to slow in the second half, but China should remain vigilant against high inflationary pressure due to rising prices of commodities and oil on the global market, Yao said.

The bureau said in a statement that outstanding problems existing in economic performance included persisting pressure for rapid price rises, factors to constrain steady agricultural production and raise the income of rural residents, and the severe international financial situation.

"We must continue to curb inflation," the spokesman said.

He said many countries, both developed and developing, suffered rising inflation in the last two months. Globally, prices of primary products, such as oil and grain, had risen more than 30 percent. Energy prices continued rising in June with coal up 19.9 percent and oil 7.2 percent.

"With the further opening-up of Chinese economy, we are more vulnerable to international factors," Li said.

He also said the post-quake reconstruction would drive up demand on building materials, which could contribute to CPI rises.

"The government should continue encouraging the industrial transfer from the economically developed eastern region to the less developed central and western regions to help ease the pressure of rising production costs for labor-intensive industries," he said.

"Meanwhile, it must further the reform of energy pricing to help solve the shortage of coal, power and oil," said Zhu Hongren, deputy director of the Bureau of Economic Operations with the National Development and Reform Commission.

(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2008)