Consumer inflation still falling

Slower manufacturing decline reduces risk of monetary easing measures being introduced

Growth in China's consumer price index weakened for the fourth consecutive month in August to indicate the lowest inflation rate in almost a year, which analysts said leaves room for China to loosen its monetary policy to stabilize economic growth.

The CPI rose by 1.3 percent year-on-year, which is the lowest rise since October and down from 1.8 percent in July. The slackening growth can be attributed to falling food prices, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement on Friday.