A farmer harvests vegetables in Lianyungang, East China's Jiangsu Province on November 21, 2021. China's vegetable supplies are abundant for upcoming festivals after vegetable prices surged in October, state broadcaster CCTV reported on the same day, citing agricultural authorities. Photo: VCG

A total of 14 provinces and regions in China recorded consumer price index (CPI) growth lower than the national rate of 2.3 percent in November, the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday.

CPI figures in Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Xizang Autonomous Region were both below one percent, and growth from 12 other provinces and regions were above one percent but still below national rate.

A total of 17 provinces and regions registered CPI higher than the national rate, with North China's Tianjin Municipality and Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region recording the highest increase of 3 percent on a yearly basis.

The growth of CPI, the main gauge of inflation, has been attributed to rising production costs, extreme weather events and sporadic coronavirus flare-ups in November, senior NBA statistician Dong Lijuan said. 

The increase of food CPI was the main driving force behind, while the non-food CPI's growth was mild, according to Huatai Securities.

According to official figures, vegetable prices in November plummeted 9.8 percentage points over the previous month amid efforts to bolster supply, while pork price rose 12.2 percent due to seasonal demand combined with short-term supply constraints.

The recent rises in vegetable, pork and oil prices were considered unsustainable and may even fall in price in the future, and there is little possibility of sharp increases in the future, Huatai Securities forecast.

According to the annual blue book issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on December 6, national CPI is forecast to increase 2.5 percent in 2022.

Global Times