The National Bureau of Statistics released its latest consumer and producer price indices today. May's consumer price index rose 2 percent on an annual basis. That was lower than 2.3 percent growth in April as an increase in vegetable prices eased. May vegetable prices rose 6.4 percent. That was, much lower compared with April's 22.6 percent increase. However, pork prices remained at a high level.

Citizens select vegetable at a supermarket in Xingtai, north China's Hebei Province, June 8, 2016. China's consumer prices grew 2 percent in May from one year earlier, official data showed on June 9. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

"Vegetable and pork are important components in the inflation index. With one up and the other down, the index remains quite stable," Wang Jinbin, deputy dean of School of Economics of Renmin University, said.

"The price index will remain in a mild state in the future," Liu Weimin, researcher of State Council's Development Research Center, said.

China's oil prices were increased twice in May. Gasoline and diesel have a minor impact on inflation but the increase will be noticed in the prices of other goods.

"A slight increase in oil prices will drive up non-food prices, such as logistics costs and transportation,"  Liu said.
 
Meanwhile, the producer price index declined 2.8 percent in May from a year ago. The May figure fell at its slowest rate since November 2011. A pickup in government investment spending supported demand, braking the fall.