More inflation sparks

The warning from the authorities was loud and clear: Food producers, such as the factories located in Liuzhou and Nanning of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region who collectively raised the wholesale prices of uncooked rice noodle in January, will receive heavy penalties for ramping up their prices.

As the worst drought in decades shows little sign of easing in Southwest China, it is a matter of urgency for policymakers to brace for a hard fight against inflation.

But it's not enough in dealing with inflation, nor is it effective for authorities to simply intensify their enforcement against price hikes and crack down on price gouging.