Slowdown In Economy: Chinese inflation quickens in Dec

BEIJING: China’s consumer inflation rate crept higher in December, official data showed Saturday, as the world’s second-largest economy struggles with slower growth. The consumer price index (CPI) - a main gauge of inflation - rose 1.6% last month from a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement. It edged up from November’s 1.5%, and came in at 1.4% over the course of the year, well below the government’s target of “around 3%”. Food prices, however, rose at a faster pace, increasing 2.3% in 2015. Moderate inflation can be a boon to consumption as it pushes buyers to act before prices go up, while falling prices encourage shoppers to delay purchases and companies to put off investment, both of which can hurt growth.  

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.

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