China’s annual inflation slowed to a seven-month low of 2.5% in December, Reuters reported, citing official data released on Thursday. The drop in inflation last month, from November’s print of 3%, was sharper than a fall to the 2.7% rate expected by the market, slowed by volatile food costs. Food prices rose 4.1% in December from a year earlier, slowing from November’s 5.9%. Month-on-month, consumer prices rose 0.3% versus 0.4% expected by economists. But analysts warn inflation may quicken in coming months as the government pushes market-oriented reforms to liberalize energy and utility prices.
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