In February 2021, the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped by 0.2 percent year on year. Among them, the prices in urban and rural areas dropped by 0.2 and 0.1 percent; the prices of food stuff and non-foodstuff both went down by 0.2 percent; the prices of consumer goods and services declined by 0.3 and 0.1 percent. From January to February, on average, China's consumer prices fell by 0.3 percent over the same period last year.

In February, China's consumer prices rose by 0.6 percent month on month. Among them, the prices in urban and rural areas rose by 0.6 and 0.4 percent; the prices of food stuff and non-foodstuff rose by 1.6 and 0.4 percent; the prices of consumer goods and services rose by 0.7 and 0.4 percent.

I. Year-on-Year Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In February, prices of food, tobacco and liquor went up by 0.3 percent year-on-year, affecting nearly 0.09 percentage point increase in the CPI. Of which, the prices of aquatic products increased by 5.9 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.11 percentage point in total; that of fresh vegetables rose by 3.3 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.08 percentage point in total; that of fresh fruits rose by 3.1 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.06 percentage point in total; that of eggs went up by 3.0 percent, affecting the CPI up by about 0.02 percentage point; that of grain went up by 1.4 percent, affecting nearly 0.02 percentage point increase in the CPI; that of livestock meat went down by 7.3 percent, affecting nearly 0.34 percentage point decrease in the CPI (price of pork was down by 14.9 percent, affecting nearly 0.39 percentage point decrease in the CPI).

Prices in the other seven categories were 2 up 5 down year on year. In which, the prices of education, culture and entertainment, health care rose by 0.6 and 0.3 percent; that of transportation and communications, other goods and services, decreased by 1.9 and 0.8 percent, that of clothing, housing and daily goods and services dropped by 0.5, 0.3 and 0.2 percent.

II. Month-on-Month Changes of Prices of Different Categories

In February, food, tobacco and alcohol prices went up by 1.2 percent month-on-month, affecting CPI increase by 0.36 percentage point. the prices of aquatic products increased by 8.7 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.16 percentage point in total; that of fresh fruits rose by 6.1 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.12 percentage point in total; that of fresh vegetables rose by 1.8 percent, affecting the CPI up by 0.05 percentage point in total; that of eggs went down by 3.8 percent, affecting the CPI down by about 0.02 percentage point; that of livestock meat went down by 1.0 percent, affecting nearly 0.04 percentage point decrease in the CPI (price of pork was down by 3.1 percent, affecting nearly 0.07 percentage point decrease in the CPI).

Other seven categories of prices rose 4 fell 2 and flat 1 month on month. Among them, the prices of transportation and communication, education, culture and entertainment increased by 1.1 and 0.8 percent; that of housing and daily necessities and services both increased by 0.1 percent; that of health care unchanged; that of clothing, other supplies and services, decreased by 0.5 and 0.3 percent respectively.