Flooding in 'fruit basket' fuels price hike

Prices for fresh produce, including vegetables and eggs, could increase as a result of rising consumption demand combined with bad weather across the country, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affair said on Friday.

Vegetable prices last month were up 2.3 percent compared with June, according to the ministry.

Unprecedented flooding triggered by incessant rain and a last-minute discharge of floodwaters from upstream reservoirs have wreaked havoc in Shouguang, Shandong province, known as China's fruit and vegetable basket - raising concerns that produce prices could spike.