Economics

Chinese Inflation Slows as Virus Hurts Demand and Oil Slumps

  • China pork price gains also moderate from record high
  • Factory prices sink further into the red, outlook worsens
The Xidan shopping area of Beijing, China on April 7.Photographer: Giulia Marchi/Bloomberg
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China’s consumer inflation slowed to the weakest pace since October last month as food and oil prices moderated and shutdowns to beat the coronavirus kept demand depressed.

The consumer price index rose 4.3% in March from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said Friday. That compares to the median estimate of a 4.9% increase. Factory-gate prices declined 1.5%, versus a forecast 1.1% drop.