China CPI Rises 0.2% YoY in January 2026

China's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% year-on-year in January 2026, as modest gains in non-food prices offset a decline in food costs, according to the latest official data.

On an annual basis, urban consumer prices increased by 0.2%, while rural prices rose 0.1%. Food prices fell 0.7% from a year earlier, whereas non-food prices climbed 0.4%. Prices of consumer goods advanced 0.3%, and service prices edged up 0.1%.

On a month-on-month basis, CPI also increased by 0.2% in January. Both urban and rural prices rose 0.2%. Food prices were unchanged from December, while non-food prices gained 0.2%. Prices of consumer goods and services each rose 0.2% compared with the previous month.

Year-on-Year Changes by Category

In January, prices for food, tobacco and alcohol, and catering services declined 0.2% year-on-year, dragging down overall CPI by approximately 0.06 percentage points.

Within the food category, egg prices dropped 9.2%, reducing CPI by around 0.05 percentage points. Prices for livestock meat fell 6.1%, lowering CPI by about 0.26 percentage points. Notably, pork prices declined 13.7%, contributing a 0.28 percentage point decrease to CPI.

In contrast, fresh vegetable prices rose 6.9%, pushing CPI up by about 0.12 percentage points. Fresh fruit prices increased 3.2%, contributing roughly 0.06 percentage points, while aquatic product prices edged up 0.7%, adding about 0.01 percentage points.

Among the other seven major categories, four recorded price increases, one remained flat, and two declined year-on-year. Prices for other goods and services surged 13.2%, while household goods and services rose 2.6%. Clothing and healthcare prices increased by 1.9% and 1.7%, respectively. Education, culture and entertainment prices were unchanged. Meanwhile, transportation and communication prices fell 3.4%, and housing prices dipped 0.1%.

Month-on-Month Changes by Category

On a monthly basis, prices for food, tobacco and alcohol, and catering services were unchanged overall.

Within food items, egg prices rose 2.7%, lifting CPI by approximately 0.01 percentage points. Fresh fruit and aquatic product prices each increased 2.0%, contributing about 0.04 percentage points respectively. Livestock meat prices rose 0.5%, adding around 0.02 percentage points, with pork prices up 1.2%, contributing about 0.02 percentage points.

However, fresh vegetable prices declined 4.8% from December, weighing on CPI by roughly 0.10 percentage points.

Across the remaining seven categories, five posted month-on-month increases, one was flat, and one declined. Prices for other goods and services and household goods and services rose 2.7% and 0.9%, respectively. Education, culture and entertainment, as well as healthcare, each increased 0.3%, while transportation and communication prices edged up 0.1%. Housing prices were unchanged, and clothing prices fell 0.2%.