Consumer Price Index for March 2023

In March 2023, the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.7 percent year-on-year. Among them, the urban increased by 0.7 percent and the rural increased by 0.6 percent; food prices increased by 2.4 percent, while nonfood prices increased by 0.3 percent; consumer goods prices increased by 0.5 percent and service prices increased by 0.8 percent. From January to March, on average, the national consumer price increased by 1.3 percent over the same period last year.

In March, the national consumer price decreased by 0.3 percent month-on-month. Among them, the price in urban areas decreased by 0.3 percent and the price in rural areas decreased by 0.3 percent; food prices decreased by 1.4 percent, while nonfood prices were flat; consumer goods prices decreased by 0.5 percent and service prices increased by 0.1 percent.

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

In March, the price of food, tobacco and alcohol increased by 2.1 percent year-on-year, affecting the CPI increased by about 0.59 percentage points. Among foodstuff, the price of fresh fruit increased by 11.5 percent, affecting the CPI increased by about 0.24 percentage point; egg prices increased by 7.8 percent, affecting CPI increased by about 0.05 percentage point; the price of livestock meat increased by 4.6 percent, affecting the CPI increased by about 0.14 percentage point, of which the price of pork increased by 9.6 percent, affecting the CPI increased by about 0.11 percentage point; grain prices increased by 2.0 percent, affecting CPI increased by about 0.04 percentage point; fresh vegetable prices decreased by 11.1 percent, affecting the CPI decreased by about 0.28 percentage point.

The prices of the other seven major categories increased five and decreased two year-on-year. Among them, the prices of other supplies and services, education, culture and recreation, health care increased by 2.5, 1.4 and 1.0 percent respectively, the prices of clothing, household facilities, articles and services increased by 0.8 and 0.7 percent respectively; the prices of transportation and telecommunication and residence decreased by 1.9 and 0.3 percent respectively.

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

In March, the price of food, tobacco and alcohol decreased by 0.9 percent month-on-month, affecting the CPI decreased by about 0.26 percentage point. Among foodstuff, fresh vegetable prices decreased by 7.2 percent, affecting the CPI decreased by about 0.17 percentage point; the price of livestock meat decreased by 2.4 percent, affecting the CPI decreased by about 0.08 percentage point, of which the price of pork decreased by 4.2 percent, affecting the CPI decreased by about 0.06 percentage point; the price of aquatic products decreased by 0.8 percent, affecting the CPI decreased by about 0.02 percentage point; the price of fresh fruit increased by 0.4 percent, affecting the CPI increased by about 0.01 percentage point.

The prices of the other seven major categories increased three, leveled one and decreased three month-on-month. Among them, the prices of other supplies and services, clothing, health care increased by 0.8, 0.5 and 0.1 percent respectively;the prices of housing were flat;the prices of household facilities, articles and services, transportation and telecommunication, education, culture and recreation decreased by 0.5, 0.4 and 0.1 percent respectively;