China CPI Rises 1.0% in March as Food Prices Diverge

China's consumer inflation rose in March, supported by higher prices in services and non-food items, while food prices showed mixed trends and overall month-on-month prices declined, according to official data.

Consumer Price Index Rises 1.0% Year-On-Year In March

In March 2026, China's Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 1.0% compared with a year earlier.

Urban areas recorded a 1.1% rise, while rural areas saw a 0.9% increase. By category, food prices rose 0.3%, while non-food prices climbed 1.2%. Consumer goods prices increased 1.3%, and service prices rose 0.8%.

For the January–March period, the average CPI was up 0.9% year-on-year.

Consumer Prices Fall 0.7% Month-On-Month In March

On a monthly basis, CPI declined 0.7% in March compared with February.

Urban prices fell 0.7%, while rural prices dropped 0.5%. Food prices decreased 2.7%, non-food prices slipped 0.2%, consumer goods prices edged down 0.3%, and service prices fell 1.1%.

Food, Tobacco And Dining Prices Edge Higher Year-On-Year

Food, tobacco, and dining-out prices rose 0.4% year-on-year in March, contributing about 0.11 percentage points to overall CPI growth.

Within food categories, fresh vegetables increased 4.9%, contributing about 0.08 percentage points. Fresh fruit rose 4.0%, adding about 0.08 percentage points. Aquatic products climbed 3.7%, contributing about 0.07 percentage points.

In contrast, meat prices declined 4.2%, pulling CPI down by about 0.18 percentage points. Pork prices fell 11.5%, accounting for a 0.22 percentage point drag. Egg prices dropped 3.1%, reducing CPI by about 0.02 percentage points.

Non-Food Categories Show Broad-Based Gains Year-On-Year

Among the seven major non-food categories, six posted increases while one declined.

Other goods and services rose 13.5%, medical care increased 1.9%, and clothing gained 1.6%. Household goods and services rose 1.5%, education, culture and recreation increased 1.1%, and transport and communications climbed 0.9%. Housing prices fell 0.2%.

Food Prices Drive Monthly Decline In March

Food, tobacco, and dining-out prices fell 1.8% month-on-month, contributing about 0.53 percentage points to the overall CPI decline.

Fresh vegetable prices dropped 10.1%, weighing on CPI by about 0.19 percentage points. Meat prices declined 3.9%, including a 7.3% fall in pork, which alone reduced CPI by about 0.13 percentage points.

Fresh fruit prices fell 3.3%, eggs declined 2.7%, and aquatic products dropped 2.6%, further contributing to the monthly decrease.

Monthly Changes Mixed Across Non-Food Categories

Non-food prices showed mixed monthly movements, with four categories rising and three declining.

Clothing and transport both increased 0.4%, while housing and medical care each rose 0.1%. In contrast, education, culture and recreation fell 1.6%, other goods and services declined 1.4%, and household goods and services slipped 0.1%.