MNI: China NDRC Official: Sees No Risk of High Inflation

By Wanxia Lin

     BEIJING (MNI) - There is no sign of a trend that CPI will continue to rise,

or of the risk of high inflation, a Chinese official said Wednesday, downplaying

recent concerns on rising CPI.

     China's core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, came in at 2% y/y

in the first three quarters, 0.1% lower than for the same period last year. 

     Inflation has been a low level for two years, indicating there is no risk

of high inflation, said Meng Wei, spokesman for the National Development and

Reform Commission.

     The consumer price is expected to remain in a reasonable range in the near

future, Meng added. 

     Headline CPI came in 2.5% y/y in September, the highest since the 2.9% gain

recorded in February. Meng attributed the gain to short-term factors like

extreme weather conditions.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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