In this May, influenced by the accelerating rise in the prices of major energies such as petroleum, coal and so on, the price level of the industrial products went up 5.7% over last May, which was 0.7 percentage point higher over the rise of this April, however, analyzed by the ratio of this month¡¯s price to last month¡¯s reflecting the changes of current prices, the month-to-month ratio of price in this May was up 0.2%, down 0.6 percentage point over this April, indicating that the rising momentum of the general price level of industrial products has trended to weaken after the state macro adjustment and control.

    First of all, the price of means of production showed the higher rise but the month-to-month ratio of price descended apparently. Compared with the same month of last year, the ex-factory price of means of production of last year in this May rose 7.1%, forcing the general ex-factory price of industrial products to rise by 5.2 percentage points. Specifically speaking, the price of the industrial products in mining and quarrying industry rose 12.7%, that in the material industry was up 8.9%, that in the processing industry was up 5.2%. The ex-factory price of living materials went up 1.7%, driving the general ex-factory price level of industrial products to climb by 0.5 percentage points. Specifically speaking, that of foods and similar products went up 6.2%, that of clothes was up 1%, that of daily-used articles rose 2.3%, and that of durable consumer goods dropped 3.6%.

    According to the condition of the ratio of this month¡¯s price to last month¡¯s, the ex-factory prices of means of production and living materials presented the descending trend in the increase extent. In this May, the ex-factory price of means of production was up 0.2% over last month, down 0.8 percentage point in the rise over this April. The ex-factory price of living materials kept the same level with last month, down 0.3 percentage point over the rise of this April.

    Secondly, the price of ferrous metal products dropped clearly. In this May, affected by the strengthened force of the State macro control, the price of steel products dropped significantly. The ex-factory price of mining and dressing of ferrous metals went up 55.9% year on year which was 18.6 percentage points less than the rise of this April; that of smelting and pressing of ferrous metals was up 21.1% over the same months of last year which was 3.2 percentage points lower over this April. Specifically speaking, the price of common large-sized steel products climbed 27% which was down 0.9 percentage point, that of common medium-sized steel products was up 26.4% which was 9.7 percentage points lower; that of common small-sized steel products climbed 22.5%, down by 3.9 percentage points in the rise over this April; that of line-shaped products ascended 22.9%, down by 12.5 percentage points in the rise. The ex-factory prices of the products related to steel production showed the dropping trend clearly. Especially, the price of iron ore for steel-making was up 62% which was 22 percentage points lower over the rise of this April; that of refined iron powder was up 35.6%, down by 15.3 percentage points; that of coke was up 31.5%, down by 5.3 percentage points.

    Analyzed by the ratio of this month¡¯s price to last month¡¯s, the ex-factory price of smelting and pressing of ferrous metals was down 1.7% over last month. Specifically speaking, the price of common large-sized steel products was down 0.3% over last month, that of common medium-sized steel products was down 6.8%, that of common small-sized steel products dropped 2.5%, that of line-shaped products declined 9.7%. In the meantime, the price of iron stone for steel-making dropped 7.6% over this April, that of refined iron powder was down 6.4%.

    Thirdly, the ex-factory price of non-ferrous products was declining, too. In this May, the ex-factory price of products of non-ferrous metals climbed 20.7% over last May, down by 0.7 percentage point over the rise of this April. Analyzed by specific product, the ex-factory prices of tin, nickel, lead, alumina, copper and zinc rose to different extents over last May.

    Based on the ratio of this month¡¯s price to last month¡¯s, the ex-factory price of the products of smelting and pressing of non-ferrous metals went down 0.3% over last month.

    Fourthly, the prices of crude oil and oil products continued to rise. In this May, the price of petroleum in the international market rose dramatically continuously, and the related authority elevated the prices of crude oil and oil products two times, so the price of oil products rose rapidly. The ex-factory price of crude oil rose 9.5% year on year, up by 5.7 percentage points over the rise of this April. The ex-factory price of gasoline was up 7.2%, that of diesel oil climbed 12.5%, that of kerosene ascended 9.6%, which were 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 percentage points higher over the rise of this April respectively.

    Fifthly, the ex-factory price of coal showed the strong rising momentum. In this May, affected by strong demand and insufficient transport power in coal market, the price of coal continued to rise. Compared with last May, the ex-factory price of mining and dressing of coal was up 15.4%, which was 2.3 percentage points more than the rise of this April. Especially, the ex-factory price of raw coal rose 15.1% which was 1.2 percentage points higher than the rise of this April.

    Sixthly, the purchase price of materials, fuels and power rose unceasingly. Compared with last May, the purchase price of materials, fuels and power rose 11.2% which was 0.7 percentage point higher than the rise of this April. Among the surveyed 9 major products purchased, the prices of products of ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and farm sideline increased with the higher rises, up 23.6%, 21.6% and 17.5% respectively. The prices of other six major products went up to different extents. But analyzed by the ratio of this month¡¯s price to last month¡¯s, the increase of this May was 0.7 percentage point lower than that of this April.

    From this Jan. to May, the ex-factory price of industrial products went up 4.3%, and the purchase price of materials, fuels and power climbed 9.4%.