Low-income families may require help if food prices continue to rise

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX rose 2.3 percent year-on-year in March, with food prices, which increased by 4.1 percent, the major reason for the surge, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. China Daily reporter Li Yang comments:

The index's 2.3 percent rise in March was markedly higher than its 1.7 percent growth in January and 1.5 percent in February. It is noteworthy that vegetable prices rose by 16.2 percent, fruits by 7.7 percent and pork by 5.1 percent last month.

Given that the government has fixed the ceiling for the index's annual growth at 2 percent, the rise in March, although a big jump from February, means the first quarter index still falls within a reasonable range. It is projected that the index may rise to 3 percent or more in some months later in the year.