China’s consumer inflation up 0.1 per cent YoY in June

China’s consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in June, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Wednesday.

The CPI in urban regions rose 0.1 per cent year-on-year last month, while that in the rural regions was down 0.2 per cent, according to the data.

On a monthly basis, the CPI dipped 0.1 per cent in June, China Daily quoted the data as showing.

In the first half of 2025, the country’s CPI posted a 0.1-percent decline compared with the same period last year, according to the bureau.

The official data also indicated that the producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went down 3.6 per cent year-on-year in June.

On a month-on-month basis, the PPI dropped 0.4 per cent in June, according to the data.

In the first half of 2025, the PPI dropped by 2.8 per cent year-on-year, the data showed.

China to host 200 digital economy, AI training programmes for Global South

China’s consumer prices fell at a slower pace in March, while the annual decline in factory-gate prices deepened, official data showed on Thursday.

The country’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, fell by 0.1 per cent year-on-year in March after a 0.7 per cent drop in February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). China Daily reported that within the CPI, food prices experienced a year-on-year decline of 1.4 per cent, compared to a decrease of 3.3 per cent in February.

Month-on-month, the CPI dipped 0.4 per cent in March, following a 0.2 per cent drop in February.

The growth in core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices and is deemed a better gauge of the supply-demand relationship in the economy, rose by 0.5 per cent year-on-year in March after a 0.1 per cent dip in February.

Dong Lijuan, an NBS statistician, attributed the month-on-month CPI decline to the abundant food supply due to warmer weather, lower prices of travel-related services in the off-season and declining international oil prices.

Dong also highlighted the emergence of some positive signs, such as the narrowing decline in year-on-year CPI and the growth in core CPI, saying policies aimed at boosting consumer demand started to take effect and the impact of the timing difference of the Spring Festival holiday gradually faded.

China’s Producer Price Index (PPI), which gauges factory-gate prices, dropped by 2.5 per cent year-on-year in March, widening from a 2.2 per cent fall in February, the NBS said.

On a month-on-month basis, the PPI dropped 0.4 per cent in March after a 0.1 per cent decrease in February, according to the NBS.

Dong said the factory-gate prices declined due to lower prices for domestic petroleum products and certain export-oriented industries, seasonal weakening demand for energy products such as coal, and the declining prices in several raw materials.

Meanwhile China will launch the “Digital South” initiative under the framework of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), offering 200 training programmes in artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy to Global South countries over the next five years, Premier Li Qiang announced during the 17th BRICS Summit.

Speaking during plenary sessions held on Sunday and Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Premier Li highlighted key topics including strengthening multilateralism, AI, environmental and climate change, and global health, Xinhua News Agency said.

Leaders of BRICS member states, partner countries, guest nations, and representatives of international organisations attended the meetings.

The current international economic and trade order, as well as the multilateral trading system, are under severe strain, and the global economic recovery remains challenging, Li said.

He noted that the Greater BRICS cooperation should uphold its founding purpose, meet the needs of the times, safeguard and practice multilateralism, promote the establishment of a fair and open international economic and trade order, and unite the strength of the Global South to make greater contributions to global stability and development.

He emphasised the need to open up new blue oceans for economic growth by expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital and green economies, leveraging AI to empower a wide range of industries and benefit countless households, and helping Global South countries enhance their capabilities.

As part of this commitment, China will host 200 training programmes in the digital economy and AI for Global South countries over the next five years. Premier Li also invited global participation in the upcoming World Artificial Intelligence Conference, scheduled to take place in China this July.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has announced that the European Union aims to rebalance its economic relationship with China by demanding fair and reciprocal access for European companies to the Chinese market.

Agencies