China Producer Inflation Hits Over 4-Year High

China’s annual producer price inflation accelerated to 5.0% in September 2026 from 3.8% in August, exceeding expectations of a 4.5% increase. This marked the strongest reading since June 2022, as higher fuel prices drove up business costs. Prices of production materials accelerated to 6.5% from 5.0%, driven by faster increases in mining (25.4% vs 17.8%), raw materials (9.4% vs 6.7%) and processing (3.4% vs 3.1%). Meanwhile, consumer goods prices fell 0.1%, easing from a 0.5% decline in August, as food prices fell 1.8%, clothing dropped 1.2% and daily-use goods decreased 0.6%, while durable goods prices rose 1.6%. Among major industries, prices increased sharply in coal mining (35.3%), oil and gas extraction (24.5%) and non-ferrous metal smelting (21.4%). On a monthly basis, the PPI rose 1.2%, its biggest increase since April, accelerating from August’s 0.4% gain. In the first nine months of the year, producer prices increased 2.3% compared to the same period last year.

China’s producer inflation accelerated to 3.8% yoy in August 2026, up from July’s three-month low of 3.5% and surpassing market estimates of 3.7%, as energy prices continued to rise amid global oil shocks related to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Prices of production materials inflation accelerated (5.0% vs 4.8% in July), supported by faster increases in the cost of mining (17.8% vs 16.4%) and raw materials (6.7% vs 6.1%), while processing increased at the same pace (3.1%). Meanwhile, consumer goods prices fell at a softer pace (-0.5% vs -0.8%), as prices fell further for food (-2.3% vs -2.1%), clothing (-1.2% vs -1.1%), and daily-use goods (-0.8% vs -1.0%), while durable goods prices picked up (1.2% vs 0.4%). On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.4%, recovering from a 0.7% drop in July. In the first eight months of the year, producer prices rose 2.0%, faster than the 1.8% gain in the previous period.

China’s producer prices rose 3.5% yoy in July 2026, slowing from a 4.1% gain in the previous month and falling short of market estimates of 3.8%. It was also the lowest producer inflation since April amid weak domestic demand and fading energy cost pressures as global oil shocks tied to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz began to ease. Prices of production materials continued to rise, albeit at a milder rate (4.8% vs 5.5% in June) due to further increases in the cost of mining (16.4% vs 16.5%), raw materials (6.1% vs 8.6%), and processing (3.1% vs 3.0%). Meanwhile, consumer goods prices remained weak (-0.8% vs -0.9%), as prices fell further for food (-2.1% vs -2.1%), clothing (-1.1% vs -1.0%), and daily-use goods (-1.0% vs -1.0%), while durable goods prices picked up (0.4% vs 0.1%). On a monthly basis, producer prices fell 0.7%, faster than a 0.3% drop in June. In the first seven months of the year, producer prices rose 1.8%, steeper than a 1.5% gain in the prior period.