Vegetable prices continued to rise last week, outpacing increases in edible oil, meat, eggs and fruit, said China's Ministry of Commerce yesterday, according to Xinhua news agency.
The average price of vegetables jumped 3.3 percent from July 23 to July 29 from the previous week thanks to short supplies and higher transport and storage costs in bad weather.
Rainstorms and extreme heat continued this week in many areas of the country, which may lead to further price hikes in vegetables, the ministry said.
Egg prices increased 2.4 percent last week compared to the week before due to a supply shortfall in the hot weather when hens produce fewer eggs.
Pork prices increased two percent last week from the previous week, beef prices grew 1.4 percent in the period and mutton rose 0.3 percent, said the ministry.
However, aquatic products were cheaper last week and the ministry reported little increase in grain prices.
The consumer price index grew 4.4 percent in June and 3.2 percent in the first half from a year earlier driven by the surging cost of food. The growth exceeded the country's annual target of three percent. Food makes up about one-third of the index.
The country's top planning body on Monday warned local governments to be cautious on raising prices amid people's concerns over the widespread growth in the cost of food.