Factory prices of industrial products in China dropped by 3.1 percent in April compared with the same month last year, but at a lower rate than March.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that the prices of capital goods dropped 3.4 percent in April on a year-on-year base, with the mining industry falling 1.2 percent, raw materials 4.1 percent and processing 3.2 percent.
The factory price of coal, continuing a rising trend, surged by17.6 percent from April last year.
Influenced by events in the Middle East, the value of crude oil in the international market continued to rise, but the price on the domestic market plunged 15.3 percent year-on-year.
The NBS said that the factory price of gasoline dropped 20.2 percent, diesel 7.6 percent, and kerosene 14.7 percent.
Consumer goods dropped 2.3 percent from April last year, with food down 0.7 percent, garments 1.5 percent, ordinary household items 1.8 percent and durable goods 5.5 percent.
According to the statistics, factory prices of industrial products dropped 3.8 percent in the first four months of this year compared with the previous corresponding period.
(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2002)
