Inflation up, but not a worry

Prices hit a 3-year high in January, mainly due to early Spring Festival

China's consumer prices beat market expectations in January to hit a three-year high thanks to pickup in consumption and travel activities during the Spring Festival season, but analysts said inflation may ease in February and not become a major concern this year.

The consumer price index grew by 2.5 percent year-on-year last month, up from 2.1 percent in December, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday.