Coronavirus explodes consumer prices in China

Text by: RFI Follow

In addition to complicating the daily life of the Chinese, the epidemic of coronavirus caused a very important rise in the prices and in particular the food prices. This is revealed by the figures released on Monday by the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics.

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Plus 5.4% last month, plus 20.6% year on year. Consumer prices in China reached their highest level since the end of 2011. This period traditionally corresponds to a peak, due to the Lunar New Year and the holidays that follow.

But this year, two exceptional factors are helping to explode prices: first, swine fever , which has been decimating Chinese livestock for a year and a half, while pork is the most widely consumed meat in the country.

Then the coronavirus : since January 23, it has been two and a half weeks, the Chinese authorities have imposed drastic measures to try to limit the spread of the epidemic.

Entire regions are subject to containment measures , roadblocks and movement restrictions are put in place. This greatly complicates the transport of agricultural products and therefore makes them more expensive.

Finally, people who fear shortages tend to buy large quantities of the products available for stocking, which again contributes to raising prices.

► See also the infographic: The coronavirus in 7 points

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• China
• coronavirus
• consumption

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