Means of production prices rise in China

BEIJING - Most of capital goods monitored by the government registered higher prices in late July compared with mid-July, official data showed Wednesday.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 31 reported rising prices during the period, 18 registered lower prices, while one saw its price remain unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Hog prices edged down 0.6 percent in late July compared with that in mid-July.

The readings, released every 10 days, are based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions.