China Inflation Stable in May

China’s annual inflation held steady at 1.2% in May 2026, unchanged from the previous month but slightly below market expectations of 1.3%. Non-food inflation edged higher (1.9% vs 1.8% in April), lifted by an acceleration in transport costs (5.4% vs. 4.6%) amid higher energy prices and supply-chain disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Prices also continued to rise for clothing (1.4% vs. 1.5%), healthcare (2.1% vs. 2.2%), and education (1.3% vs. 1.3%). Meanwhile, housing costs remained subdued (-0.2% vs. -0.2%). On the food side, prices fell for the second straight month (-1.7% vs -1.6%), marking the sharpest drop since October, largely due to persistently weak pork prices and continued declines in fresh fruit costs. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose 1.1% yoy, after April's 1.2% gain. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down 0.1%, reversing a 0.3% increase in April. However, the decline was milder than forecasts of a 0.2% drop.

China’s annual inflation accelerated to 1.2% in April 2026 from 1.0% in the previous month, exceeding market expectations of 0.8%. Non-food inflation climbed (1.8% vs 1.2% in March), with transport costs picking up significantly (4.6% vs 0.9%), amid higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions linked to the prolonged Middle East conflict. Also, prices continued to rise for clothing (1.5% vs 1.6%), healthcare (2.2% vs 1.9%), and education (1.3% vs 1.1%). In contrast, housing costs continued to decline (-0.2% vs -0.2%). On the food side, prices fell 1.6%, reversing a 0.3% increase in March and marking the first drop since January, reflecting persistently weak pork prices and declines in costs of fresh vegetables and fresh fruits. Core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose 1.2% yoy, after March's 1.1% gain. On a monthly basis, the CPI increased 0.3%, swinging from a 0.7% fall previously and defying consensus for a 0.1% decline.

China’s annual inflation eased to 1.0% in March 2026 from February’s over three-year high of 1.3%, falling short of market expectations of 1.2%. Food prices rose at a much softer pace (0.3% vs 1.7% in February), amid a sharp slowdown in fresh vegetables and fruit, alongside a steeper fall in pork prices. Meanwhile, non-food inflation was little changed (1.2% vs 1.3%), with prices continuing to rise for clothing (1.6% vs 1.9%), healthcare (1.9% vs 1.9%), and education (1.1% vs 2.0%). Transport costs rebounded (0.9% vs -0.7%), while a decline in housing costs persisted (-0.2% vs -0.2%). Core inflation, excluding food and energy, rose 1.1% yoy, after a 1.8% gain in February, which had pointed to the strongest gain since March 2019. China recently imposed controls on domestic fuel prices to cushion households and businesses against higher oil costs. Monthly, the CPI fell 0.7%, after a 1.0% gain in February, marking the first drop since November and undershooting forecasts of a 0.2% drop.