Inflation set to remain high

Consumer prices jumped 6.2 percent in September on the back of higher food costs and, in response, the government will consider a tighter monetary policy and investment curbs, a senior official said yesterday.

Zhu Zhixin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planer, made the remark at a news conference on the sidelines of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

September's inflation was down slightly from 6.5 percent in August, the highest monthly rate in 11 years. The inflation spike has been blamed on double-digit rises in food prices, especially pork.