In this May, the general consumer price level went up 1.8% over last May, of which, that in the urban area went up 1.4%, that in the rural area rose 2.4%. Compared with this April, the consumer price dropped 0.2%. In the first five months, the general consumer price level showed a year-on-year rise of 2.4%.

    Analyzed by commodity category, in this May, the price of food went up 2.8% over last May, the price of non-food rose 1.2%; that of consumer goods went up 1.2%, that of service items went up 3.6%.

    Among the price of foods, the price of grain declined 1.6%, that of grease went down 5.7%, that of meat, poultry and their products went up 6.9%, that of fresh eggs went up 11.9%, that of aquatic products rose 3.0%, that of fresh vegetables went up 10.1%.

    The price of tobacco, liquor and daily-used articles went up 0.4%, of which, that of tobacco rose 0.4%, that of liquors climbed 0.6%.

    The price of clothes went down 2.2%, of which, that of clothes declined 2.3%.

    The price of home appliances and repair services went down 0.3%, of which, that of durable consumer goods went down 1.4%, that of home service, processing and repairs went up 3.8%.

    The price of medical treatment and health care declined 0.5%, of which, the price of western medicines went down 2.4%, that of the traditional Chinese medicine materials and prepared medicines went down 4.2%, but the price of medical care services rose 4.0%.

    The price of transport and communications went down 1.4%. Specifically speaking, the price of transport tools dropped 3.4%, but that of vehicle-used fuel and parts rose 8.8%, that of using vehicles and repairs went up 2.2%, that of transport between cities went up 2.5%, that of telecommunication tools went down 16.6%.

    The price of recreational, educational, cultural and services went up 2.8%, specifically speaking, the price of tuition and miscellaneous fees went up 6.6%, that of recreational fees went up 3.7%, that of travel and going out dropped 1.5%, that of recreational durable goods went down 6.3%.

    The price of housing went up 5.8%, of which, the price of water, power and fuel rose 8.9%, that of building and upholstering materials went up 2.9%, that of renting houses climbed 2.2%.