China's consumer inflation accelerated to its fastest in five months in January while producer price deflation persisted, as holiday consumer spending was mixed. Deflationary pressures are likely to persist in China this year,

WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge closely watched by the Federal Reserve rose slightly last month, the latest sign that some consumer prices remain stubbornly elevated, even as inflation is cooling in fits and starts.

BEIJING: China’s consumer inflation accelerated for the first time since August, in what’s likely a blip caused by a burst of household spending around the Lunar New Year holiday even as deflationary pressures persist.

China's consumer inflation accelerated to its fastest in five months in January while producer price deflation persisted, reflecting mixed consumer spending and weak factory activity.

Inflation picked up in China last month, official figures showed Sunday, as the Lunar New Year holiday boosted January spending. The boost in prices last month is "mainly due to higher food prices and tourism-related services prices on an earlier-than-usual Lunar New Year holiday,