Consumer prices in China rose again in July, extending the upward trend to six months. The main reason was higher travel-related services and gas prices.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows the consumer price index climbed 0.5 percent from a year earlier.
That was despite a decline in prices of automobiles and smartphones.
Furniture and home appliances were also cheaper due to persistent weakness in the housing market. The struggling sectors have been fueling fears of deflation.
The producer price index for July was down 0.8 percent year-on-year. It has fallen for 22 months in a row.