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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| China inflation hits 11-year high | China inflation hits 11-year high |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Chinese inflation hit an 11-year high in January after rising price pressures were exacerbated by fierce snow storms, official figures show. | |
| Soaring food prices were largely blamed for pushing consumer inflation up to 7.1% last month, from 6.5% in December. | Soaring food prices were largely blamed for pushing consumer inflation up to 7.1% last month, from 6.5% in December. |
| Inflation in China continues to rise despite higher interest rates and other measures by Beijing to keep the economy from overheating. | Inflation in China continues to rise despite higher interest rates and other measures by Beijing to keep the economy from overheating. |
| The worst winter for decades hit food supplies, sending food costs up 18%. | The worst winter for decades hit food supplies, sending food costs up 18%. |
| Massive snowfalls wrecked crops and killed millions of livestock. | Massive snowfalls wrecked crops and killed millions of livestock. |
| But analysts cautioned that the severe weather was not the only factor behind rising food costs, and warned that prices could still increase further. | But analysts cautioned that the severe weather was not the only factor behind rising food costs, and warned that prices could still increase further. |
| Unrest | Unrest |
| January's inflation rate of 7.1% was the highest figure since September 1996, when consumer price inflation hit 7.4%. | January's inflation rate of 7.1% was the highest figure since September 1996, when consumer price inflation hit 7.4%. |
| Non-food inflation rose only slowly, hitting an annual rate of 1.5%, the figures showed. | Non-food inflation rose only slowly, hitting an annual rate of 1.5%, the figures showed. |
| Chinese leaders have been under pressure to control spiralling food costs, the biggest factor behind historical periods of social unrest in a country where according to the World Bank 300 million people live in poverty. | Chinese leaders have been under pressure to control spiralling food costs, the biggest factor behind historical periods of social unrest in a country where according to the World Bank 300 million people live in poverty. |
| 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 an attempt to keep inflation under control. | Last year, the government also raised interest rates six times in an attempt to keep inflation under control. |
| Analysts said in light of the latest figures they expected further interest rate rises. | Analysts said in light of the latest figures they expected further interest rate rises. |