China's food prices decrease last week

BEIJING -- Food prices in China edged down last week, due to cheaper vegetables and fish, with inflation running below the government target.

The average price of 30 types of vegetable between Nov. 14 and 20 decreased 2.2 percent from a week earlier, the Ministry of Commerce said Monday.

Prices of cucumbers, zucchini and capsicum declined 12.4 percent, 9.3 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, while grass carp dipped 1.2 percent, the ministry said.

Meat prices registered increases, with pork and beef rising 0.5 percent and 0.6 percent. Mutton climbed 0.8 percent.

Grain prices posted a mild rise in the period, and various types of edible oil also reported modest gains.

Food prices account for about one third of China's consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation.

The CPI growth target is set at around 3 percent this year. China's CPI grew 2.1 percent year on year in October, up from 1.9 percent in September.