Pork prices bring squeals, grunts

High cost of nation's favorite meat has knock-on effect that is helping the economy

Economists applauded. Housewives frowned. Pork - the staple meat of most Chinese families - led the latest round of inflation in the country.

But, despite the fact that the price of pork in China is likely to stay high this year, a sharp price hike is unlikely, said Ma Youxiang, head of the department of livestock production at the Ministry of Agriculture, on Thursday.