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| China inflation hits 11-year high | China inflation hits 11-year high |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| China's inflation hit 7.1% in January, the highest rate for more than 11 years, official figures show. | |
| The rise in consumer prices was driven by an 18.2% increase in food costs over the same period a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. | The rise in consumer prices was driven by an 18.2% increase in food costs over the same period a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. |
| Inflation in China continues to rise despite measures by the country's leadership, which hopes to keep a lid on the cost of food in particular. | Inflation in China continues to rise despite measures by the country's leadership, which hopes to keep a lid on the cost of food in particular. |
| Rising food costs have been blamed on the harshest winter for decades. | Rising food costs have been blamed on the harshest winter for decades. |
| Massive snowfalls wrecked crops and killed millions of livestock. | Massive snowfalls wrecked crops and killed millions of livestock. |
| But analysts caution that the severe weather is not the only factor behind rising food costs, and warn further increases are likely to be ahead. | But analysts caution that the severe weather is not the only factor behind rising food costs, and warn further increases are likely to be ahead. |
| Unrest | Unrest |
| The January rate of 7.1% was up from 6.5% in December - and was the highest figure since September 1996, when consumer prices rose 7.4%. | The January rate of 7.1% was up from 6.5% in December - and was the highest figure since September 1996, when consumer prices rose 7.4%. |
| Non-food inflation only crept up in January, rising 1.5% over a year beforehand, the official figures showed. | Non-food inflation only crept up in January, rising 1.5% over a year beforehand, the official figures showed. |
| The rise in food costs poses a problem for leaders in a country where such rises are historically linked to social unrest, say correspondents. | The rise in food costs poses a problem for leaders in a country where such rises are historically linked to social unrest, say correspondents. |
| Measures taken by the government include giving farmers incentives to rear more pigs. | Measures taken by the government include giving farmers incentives to rear more pigs. |
| Last year, the government also raised interest rates six times in a bid to keep inflation under control. | Last year, the government also raised interest rates six times in a bid to keep inflation under control. |
| Analysts said in light of the latest figures they expected the government to continue with a tight monetary policy. | Analysts said in light of the latest figures they expected the government to continue with a tight monetary policy. |