Prices for means of production rise in China

BEIJING - China's official data showed that most of the means of production monitored by the government posted higher prices in late April compared with the previous 10 days.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 23 saw their prices rise during April 21 to 30, while 21 posted lower prices and six were unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Prices of live pigs went up 2.5 percent while liquefied natural gas dropped 2.5 percent.

The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 1,700 wholesalers and distributors in 24 provincial-level regions.