Based on data released by the Nanjing survey team of the National Bureau of Statistics on September 10, the city's consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.6% in August compared to the same period last year, reaching 100.6.

Within this headline figure, food prices declined by 3.7% annually, while prices for non-food items increased by 1.3%. Breaking down the data further, prices for consumer goods advanced 0.5% year-on-year, whereas service prices climbed 0.7%.

On a month-over-month basis, consumer prices in Nanjing recorded a 0.6% increase in August. Food prices rose by 1.5% from the previous month, and non-food items saw a 0.5% uptick. In the monthly comparison, consumer goods prices were up 1.2%, while services increased marginally by 0.1%.

Year-on-year analysis showed that within the eight major categories tracked, five recorded gains while three saw declines. Apparel, transportation and communication, education and entertainment, healthcare, and other goods and services rose 3.2%, 2.4%, 1.9%, 3.1%, and 7.0%, respectively. Conversely, prices for food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out fell 1.4%, living costs dipped 0.7%, and household goods and services dropped 0.4%.

The 3.7% annual drop in food prices pulled the overall index down by approximately 0.48 percentage points. Notably, pork, freshwater fish, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables saw price reductions of 11.5%, 6.9%, 5.6%, and 3.8%, respectively. In contrast, egg prices surged by a substantial 18.0%, marking the most significant gain among food items.

Non-food prices contributed a 1.11 percentage point boost to the overall index with their 1.3% annual rise. Within this segment, industrial consumer goods became 2.6% more expensive, led by steep increases in gold jewelry (32.2%), cultural and entertainment durable goods (11.3%), and gasoline (9.1%). Service prices grew 0.7% annually, with notable jumps seen in food delivery (6.6%), movie and performance tickets (4.9%), medical services (4.5%), and fitness activities (4.3%).

On a monthly basis, the 1.5% increase in food prices was primarily driven by fresh products, which were up 2.5%. Fresh vegetables rose 9.9%, shrimps and crabs went up 4.9%, pork prices increased 3.4%, and eggs advanced 2.0%. However, freshwater fish and fresh fruits were cheaper by 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively.

Within the monthly non-food data, industrial consumer goods were priced 1.0% higher, driven by an 8.5% spike in gold jewelry and a 7.3% jump in gasoline prices. Service prices edged up 0.1% from July, with expenses for hotel accommodation rising 9.5%, travel agency fees climbing 3.6%, and airfares increasing 1.9%.

Among the eight major categories in the monthly comparison, five rose, one fell, and two remained flat. Food, tobacco, alcohol, and dining out increased 1.0%; apparel was up 0.7%; transportation and communication rose 1.7%; education and entertainment gained 0.5%; and other goods and services advanced 1.9%. Household goods and services dipped 0.2%, while prices for housing and healthcare were unchanged.