Economy

NDRC likely to hike resource prices

By Zhang Jiawei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-04-16 17:18
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The price increase estimate made by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Thursday was a signal that the NDRC would probably hike resource prices later this year, the Guangzhou Daily reported Friday, citing unnamed analysts.

The NDRC published a statement on its website Thursday, saying it estimates for prices for water, power, oil and natural gas in the second quarter of this year would rise.

The NDRC said in the statement that it would continue to reform resource prices and fees on environmental protection. The government will consider the affordability of the society in all aspects in making price adjustments, the NDRC said.

It is almost unavoidable for natural gas prices to go up, and that won't happen too late in the year, the newspaper said. And power price is very likely to increase as well because the cost has been continuously going up recently.