China's headline consumer price index rose 0.3 percent on the year in May, unchanged from the increase recorded in April. Excluding the impact of lunar new year holidays earlier in the year, headline inflation is now at its highest level -- however flat -- since April 2023. The index fell 0.1 percent on the month after increasing 0.1 percent previously. Producer price inflation data also published today showed ongoing weakness in price pressures.

May's year-over-year rate is expected to edge up to 0.4 percent from April's 0.3 percent rate. China's CPI last peaked in January last year at 2.1 percent.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) is an index that measures changes over time in the price level of consumer goods and services purchased by residents, which reflects the overall changes in price level.

Consumer prices account for a majority of overall inflation, which is carefully monitored by investors worldwide. Investors worldwide monitor Chinese price changes closely. A pickup in inflation could mean an increase in interest rates is in the offing from the People's Bank of China while an easing could mean looser monetary policy. The monthly CPI is broken down by 8 categories with more detail available on the following day including aggregate information by urban and rural areas and provinces.

The CPI measures the change in the level of prices for a specified basket of goods and services normally purchased by urban and rural residents. Approximately 226 areas throughout the country are covered, including 80 counties and 146 cities. The current CPI is an annually chained Laspeyres price index and has been available since 2001. From 1978 to 2000, the index was compiled using current year weights for most items.