CPI down 1.8% in July, investment growth slows

China’s consumer price index fell 1.8% year-on-year in July, while producer prices fell 8.2% amid slowing investment growth, the Wall Street Journal reported. Urban fixed-asset investment in the period from January to July rose 32.9% over the same period last year, a decrease from the 33.6% year-on-year rise in investment in the first half of this year. The decrease in consumer prices, the sixth consecutive monthly decline, is seen as a sign of weak domestic demand. However, retail sales in July accelerated to 15.2% from June’s 15.0%.