In December 2016, the nationwide consumer price index rose by 2.1% year-on-year. Among them, urban areas saw a rise of 2.1%, while rural areas rose by 1.9%. Food prices increased by 2.4%, and non-food prices rose by 2.0%. Consumer goods prices climbed by 1.8%, and service prices rose by 2.5%. In 2016, the nationwide consumer price index rose by 2.0% compared to the previous year.

In December, the nationwide consumer price index rose by 0.2% month-on-month. Among them, prices in urban areas increased by 0.2%, while prices in rural areas rose by 0.3%. Food prices climbed by 0.4%, and non-food prices rose by 0.2%. Prices of consumer goods increased by 0.3%, and service prices rose by 0.2%.

I. Year-on-Year Changes in Prices of Various Goods and Services

In December, food, tobacco, and alcohol prices rose 2.2% year-on-year, contributing approximately 0.66 percentage points to the year-on-year increase in the CPI. Among these, meat prices increased by 4.8%, boosting the CPI by about 0.22 percentage points (with pork prices up 6.2%, contributing roughly 0.17 percentage points to the CPI increase); aquatic product prices rose by 4.3%, adding about 0.07 percentage points to the CPI; fresh fruit prices climbed by 3.2%, raising the CPI by around 0.05 percentage points; fresh vegetable prices rose by 2.6%, contributing roughly 0.07 percentage points to the CPI increase; grain prices rose by 0.9%, pushing the CPI up by about 0.02 percentage points; and egg prices fell by 4.5%, lowering the CPI by approximately 0.03 percentage points.

In December, prices for all seven major categories rose year-on-year. Among them, prices for healthcare, other goods and services, education, culture and entertainment, housing, clothing, transportation and communication, and household goods and services increased by 4.6%, 4.0%, 2.3%, 2.1%, 1.1%, 0.9%, and 0.4%, respectively.

II. Month-on-Month Changes in Prices of Various Goods and Services

In December, food, tobacco, and alcohol prices rose by 0.3% month-on-month, contributing approximately 0.09 percentage points to the month-on-month increase in the CPI. Among these, fresh fruit prices climbed by 2.9%, boosting the CPI by about 0.05 percentage points; grain prices rose by 0.3%, adding roughly 0.01 percentage points to the CPI; aquatic product prices increased by 0.3%, contributing about 0.01 percentage points to the CPI; meat prices rose by 0.2%, pushing the CPI up by around 0.01 percentage points (with pork prices rising by 0.2%, contributing about 0.01 percentage points to the CPI); and egg prices fell by 1.1%, lowering the CPI by about 0.01 percentage points.

In December, prices for the other seven major categories showed five increases and two decreases compared to the previous month. Among these, prices for transportation and communication, healthcare, housing, household goods and services, and education, culture, and entertainment rose by 0.5%, 0.5%, 0.2%, 0.2%, and 0.1%, respectively; while prices for other goods and services and clothing fell by 0.3% and 0.1%, respectively.

Note

1. Indicator Explanation

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a relative measure that tracks changes over time in the price levels of consumer goods and services purchased by households, comprehensively reflecting fluctuations in the prices of these goods and services.

2. Statistical Scope

The National Consumer Price Index (CPI) covers the prices of goods and services across eight major categories—food, tobacco and alcohol; clothing; housing; household goods and services; transportation and communication; education, culture and recreation; medical care; and other goods and services—comprising a total of 262 basic classifications reflecting the living consumption patterns of urban and rural residents nationwide.

3. Research Methodology

Survey sites were selected using a sampling survey method. In accordance with the principle of “designating specific personnel, specific locations, and specific times,” staff members were dispatched directly to these survey sites to collect raw price data. The data were sourced from over 83,000 price survey points across 500 counties and cities in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) nationwide, including shopping malls (stores), supermarkets, agricultural markets, service outlets, and online e-commerce platforms.