Inflation in China grew 1.5 percent on a year-on-year basis in late March, caused by higher prices of several products amid the new surge in Covid-19 cases, the National Bureau of Statistics reported.

Beijing.- That institution noted that, in general, food prices fell by 1.5 percent, but those of vegetables rose by 17.2 percent.

Non-food items reported price increases of 2.2 percent, while gasoline, diesel, and liquefied gas prices rose by 24.6, 26.9, and 27.1 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the wholesale inflation in the industrial sector increased by 8.3 percent, slightly lower than in February, thanks to the measures taken to curb higher raw materials and energy prices.

The Bureau warned that April’s inflation might skyrocket even higher than 2 percent because a threat of a new COVID-19 outbreak is still lurking in the country, and several socioeconomic sectors have been interrupted. (PL)