According to the National Bureau of Yichang, , the CPI increased 1.3% in December than that in the same month of last year, 0.7% up from the preceding month. The margin of increase expanded 0.4% than that of November of the previous year. The increase margin expanded 0.7% than that in November. Clothing and housing price are the two major factors accounting for the increase of the overall index.

In December, owing to the larger market share of those anti-seasonal vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants because of the apparent drop in temperature, together with the rise of freight of vegetables out of Yichang, the vegetable prices increased 11.9% compared to that in November, of which the prices of season vegetables potatoes rose by 12.6% and 10.8% respectively. With the New Year Day and Spring Festival approaching, the vegetable prices are more likely to keep the upward tendency.

Pork price came down continuously in recent three months. However, since December, the growing market demand in bacon, sausage and other stocks for Spring Festival contributed to a significant decline in the pork price, a decline of 0.4% compared to that in the preceding month. Under the impact of large-scale farming in recent years, mutton has so oversupplied that price has been on the decrease. The price of mutton dropped by 7% compared to that in the preceding month.

Influenced by carryover effects in November, clothing prices rose up 2.9% in December. Of which the price of men’s coats, wools and suits grew up to 6.1%, 6.5% and 6.5% respectively. The prices of women’s coats, sweaters and suits increased 4.7%, 4.6% and 4.8% respectively. Meanwhile the price of Kids’ jackets and pants experienced an increase of 5.7% and 2.8% respectively.

At the same time, clothing processing fees rose subsequently, which grew up to 4.5% due to the increasing price of dry-cleanse

This month, the private house and estimated rental rose by 2.2% and 1.1% respectively. On the one hand, with the approach of the year-end, some landlords raised the rent after the expiration of rental contract. On the other hand, the shanty town resettlement project in Xiling and Wu Jiagang area caused the increase of rent house demand for the temporary living of relocated households. (Reporter Pei Shujing; Correspondent Zou Jiao)