In July 2026, the national consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.5% year-on-year. Urban areas saw a 0.5% rise, while rural areas experienced a 0.4% increase. Food prices declined by 1.5%, whereas non-food prices climbed by 0.9%. Consumer goods prices edged up 0.2%, and service prices rose 0.7%.

For the first seven months of the year, the national CPI was up 0.9% compared to the same period in 2025. On a month-on-month basis, the CPI fell 0.1% in July. Urban areas dropped 0.1%, and rural areas slipped 0.2%. Food prices remained flat, while non-food prices decreased 0.1%. Consumer goods prices fell 0.6%, but service prices gained 0.4%.

Year-on-Year Price Changes by Category

In July, the price of food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out fell 0.8% year-on-year, dragging down the CPI by approximately 0.22 percentage points. Within the food category, meat prices dropped 6.0%, reducing the CPI by about 0.25 percentage points, with pork prices plunging 13.3%. Dairy prices fell 1.5%, impacting the CPI by roughly 0.02 percentage points, and fresh fruit prices declined 1.1%, also affecting the CPI by about 0.02 percentage points. Conversely, egg prices surged 14.4%, contributing 0.07 percentage points to the CPI.

Among the other seven major categories, six posted year-on-year gains and one recorded a decline. Prices for other goods and services rose 5.8%, and healthcare costs increased 2.9%. Apparel and educational, cultural, and entertainment prices advanced 1.4% and 1.3%, respectively. Household goods and services, as well as transportation and communication, saw gains of 0.8% and 0.4%. Housing prices fell 0.3%.

Month-on-Month Price Changes by Category

In July, prices for food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out were flat month-on-month. Within the food sector, meat prices rose 1.9%, boosting the CPI by 0.07 percentage points, with pork prices increasing 4.1%. Fresh vegetable prices climbed 1.3%, contributing 0.02 percentage points. Fresh fruit prices dropped 3.8%, reducing the CPI by 0.07 percentage points, and egg prices fell 1.7%, impacting the CPI by 0.01 percentage points.

Among the other seven major categories, three rose, two remained unchanged, and two declined. Educational, cultural, and entertainment prices increased 1.0%, healthcare costs rose 0.8%, and household goods and services prices advanced 0.4%. Housing and other goods and services prices were flat. Transportation and communication prices fell 2.2%, and apparel prices dropped 0.4%.

Data Table: Percentage Changes
Category: Month-on-month, Year-on-year, Jan-Jul year-on-year
National CPI: -0.1, 0.5, 0.9
Urban: -0.1, 0.5, 1.0
Rural: -0.2, 0.4, 0.7
Food: 0.0, -1.5, -0.7
Non-food: -0.1, 0.9, 1.3
Consumer goods: -0.6, 0.2, 1.0
Services: 0.4, 0.7, 0.8
Excluding food and energy: 0.3, 0.9, 1.1

By category:
Food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out: 0.0, -0.8, -0.2
Grain: 0.1, -0.4, -0.3
Cooking oil: -0.1, -1.1, -1.0
Fresh vegetables: 1.3, -0.3, 3.5
Meat: 1.9, -6.0, -5.8
Pork: 4.1, -13.3, -13.4
Beef: 0.3, 4.5, 6.0
Mutton: 0.0, 6.2, 6.0
Aquatic products: 0.1, -0.6, 1.6
Eggs: -1.7, 14.4, 2.8
Dairy: 0.0, -1.5, -1.2
Fresh fruit: -3.8, -1.1, 1.1
Cigarettes: -0.1, -0.7, -0.4
Alcoholic beverages: -0.2, -3.0, -2.7
Apparel: -0.4, 1.4, 1.6
Clothing: -0.4, 1.5, 1.7
Footwear: -0.5, 0.9, 1.1
Housing: 0.0, -0.3, -0.2
Rental housing rent: 0.1, -0.6, -0.5
Utilities and fuel: 0.0, 0.5, 0.5
Household goods and services: 0.4, 0.8, 1.7
Household appliances: 0.2, 0.2, 3.2
Household services: 0.0, 1.0, 1.0
Transportation and communication: -2.2, 0.4, 1.6
Passenger cars: -0.2, -1.3, -1.2
Transportation fuels: -9.8, 0.8, 5.2
Transportation use and maintenance: 0.1, 0.5, 0.8
Communication tools: 1.0, 8.3, 4.6
Communication services: 0.0, 0.1, 0.1
Postal services: 0.0, -0.4, -0.5
Educational, cultural, and entertainment: 1.0, 1.3, 1.2
Educational services: 0.0, 0.6, 0.5
Travel agency and other tourism services: 6.6, 2.2, 3.2
Healthcare: 0.8, 2.9, 2.1
Traditional Chinese medicine: 0.0, -0.8, -1.3
Western medicine: -0.1, -1.5, -1.3
Medical services: 1.1, 4.3, 3.2
Other goods and services: 0.0, 5.8, 10.8

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Notes

1. Indicator definition: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the relative change in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by households over time, reflecting the overall price movement of these items.

2. Survey scope: The CPI survey covers 8 major categories and 268 basic classifications of goods and services, including food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out; apparel; housing; household goods and services; transportation and communication; education, culture, and entertainment; healthcare; and other goods and services, across urban and rural households nationwide.

3. Survey method: Price data is collected through a sampling survey method by selecting designated survey points. Data is gathered by sending personnel directly to survey points or via internet collection, following the principles of fixed personnel, fixed locations, and fixed times. Data is sourced from approximately 500 cities and counties across 31 provinces, regions, and municipalities, covering nearly 120,000 price survey points, including shopping malls, supermarkets, agricultural markets, service outlets, and online e-commerce platforms.

4. Data notes: Due to rounding, the total figure may occasionally equal the high or low value of a subcategory.

5. Base period rotation: Following the statistical system schedule, starting January 2026, China's CPI has been compiled and published using 2025 as the base year. Compared to the previous base period, the new base period includes adjustments to the survey classification catalog, representative specifications, and survey points. Category weights have also been updated to reflect the latest changes in household consumption structure. Estimates indicate that this base period rotation will impact the monthly year-on-year CPI index by an average of approximately 0.06 percentage points.