Inflation dips slightly for September

Inflation ebbed slightly in September, with China's year-on-year consumer price index for the month dropping 0.1% compared to August. In September the CPI stood at 5.2%, with food prices remaining the biggest driver although they also showed signs of slowing compared with previous months, the National Bureau of Statistics said. Grain prices were up 31.7% year-on-year, fresh eggs by 28.1%, and meat and meat products 22.4%, with overall food prices going up by 13% on 2003. Rising house prices were another driver with a year-on-year growth of 6.4%, compared with the 6% and 5% in the previous two months.