China farm produce prices up slightly

BEIJING - China's farm produce prices in 36 large and medium-sized cities edged up slightly in the week ending Nov 16 compared with the previous week, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

The average price of 18 vegetables went up 2.3 percent over a week earlier, pushing up the overall prices of farm produce, the ministry said.

The prices of cucumber, green beans and eggplant rose 16.4 percent, 8.5 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively.

Last week, prices of pork and mutton stayed flat, and beef price declined 0.1 percent. The average price of aquatic products decreased 0.2 percent, and the egg price dropped 0.8 percent.

Rice price stayed flat and flour price rose 0.3 percent, according to the ministry.

Food accounts for about one third of China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation.

The CPI grew 1.6 percent year on year in October, the same as that of September and remaining at its lowest level since January 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.