China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.2 percent in September over a year earlier, ebbing slightly from the 5.3 percent increase in July and August, which might relax the nation's inflation pressure to some extent.

Food price, with a growth rate of 13.0 percent in September, continued to serve as the major impetus to boost the CPI increase despite its slower year-to-year growth rate than those of the previous two months, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Sunday.

In the month, the price of grains grew 31.7 percent, fresh eggs grew 28.1 percent, meat and meat products 22.4 percent, and fresh vegetables 1.0 percent over the previous September,    

Continued price rise of housing is another factor boosting the price rise in September, with a year-on-year growth rate of 6.4 percent, compared with the 6.0 percent and 5.0 percent growth in August and July respectively.

The price of water, electricity and fuel increased 10.5 percent year-on-year, and the price of construction and fitment materials increased 5.4 percent, both higher than the figures of the previous two months. The price of rent grew 3.0 percent, decreasing slightly than that of August.

Price of communication and transportation equipment decreased 16.0 percent and 3.5 percent respectively year-on-year in September, but the price of inter-city transportation climbed 2.9 percent as the price of automobile fuels and parts increased 13.7 percent.

The year-on-year CPI growth in rural areas continued to be faster than that in urban areas in September, which were 6.4 percent and 4.5 percent respectively.

According to NBS statistics, China's CPI increased 4.1 percent in the first three quarters over the same period of last year, higher than the 3 percent target set by China for the whole year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2004)