Fuel for transportation rose 28%, fresh veges were up 24% and fruit climbed 14%, sending prices higher, whereas the 33% plunge in pork prices helped moderate inflation. It still isn’t a scratch on the 8.3% CPI in the US and high rates in other countries. Whereas previously Chinese citizens could favourably compare their lives to friends and family who lived overseas, now their belief in the superiority of the Communist Party’s approach has been shaken.Ĭhina’s Consumer Prices Hit a Six-Month High as Covid Prompts Locals to Stock Up on Food: China’s consumer price index rose by 2.1% in April from a year ago, the fastest rise since November. Beijing is still on knife-edge in its gruelling battle against omicron. The Shanghai Government has announced that life is expected to be back to normal mid-late June. This week’s news and trends in China: Chinese ConsumersĪs Shanghai Nears End of Lockdown, Covid Angst Spreads in China: Shanghai aims to ease its lockdown restrictions by May 20, helped by yesterday’s report of no community spread.