CRI英语听力2012年03月合辑（文本）：FOOD-PRICES-STUBBORN-THOUGH-CPI-DOWNS.doc

1、高考资源网（） 您身边的高考专家Some Chinese economists now predict that China would undergo persistent consumer price increase within this year.This pessimistic sentiment runs counter to the upbeat inflation figure in February, which posted the lowest level in 20 months.Zhang Wan has more.The February CPI of 3.2 p

2、ercent is the first time that the countrys monthly inflation rate has fallen below 4 percent since October 2010.Liu Yuanchun, Assistant Dean of the Institute of Economics at Renmin University, elaborates.The shopping spree during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday boosted retail prices in January. B

3、ut ever since, the prices of upstream products have fallen.Food prices, which account for nearly one-third of the weighting in the calculation of Chinas CPI, rose 6.2 percent in February from a year earlier. This was a sharp decrease from Januarys 10.5 percent rise when Chinas Lunar New Year holiday

4、 boosted food prices.What do citizens think about the CPI seeing its lowest pace in 20 months?Vegetables are more expensive than meat.The price of garlic sprout is 12 yuan per kilogram. Its too expensive.The price of pork has dropped.Many citizens are confused as to why vegetable prices have remaine

5、d almost unchanged although the CPIs growth speed has slowed. Expert Liu Yuanchun explains there are fundamental differences between the CPI and actual commodity prices.Commodity price is an absolute number, but the CPI is an index. For example, if the CPI changes from 3.2 percent to 3.1 percent, it

6、 means that consumer prices are still rising but at a slower pace. They are totally two different concepts.Figures from the Xinfadi Vegetable Wholesale Market in Beijing also indicate that the prices of pork and eggs decreased after the Spring Festival, but that vegetable prices remained the same an

7、d are likely to rise.Experts say the continual cold weather in the north and rain in the south have damaged vegetable crops.Last week, the average wholesale price of 18 staple vegetables rose 2.6 percent week-on-week, according to the Ministry of Commerce.The price of Chinese cabbage rose 15 percent

8、 last week from a week earlier, while the price of white gourd was up 11 percent.The average wholesale price of eight staple aquatic products gained 1 percent, while the price of hairtail went up 2 percent.Easing inflation in February reflected the impact of measures the government adopted last year, such as increasing the supply of products and better regulating the logistics sector. Nevertheless, some experts caution that even though macroeconomic policies have gradually taken effect, upward price pressures will persist.For CRI, Im zhang Wan. 版权所有高考资源网