Zhongshan's consumer price index (CPI) fell 1.2% (on a year-on-year basis, the same below) in the first quarter, according to the report the National Bureau of Statistics Zhongshan survey team released on May 7.

Food prices dropped 3.0% and non-food prices declined 0.8%. Consumer goods prices fell 1.8%, while service prices eased 0.6%. Core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, declined 0.6%.

Of the eight major goods and services categories, prices rose in three: other articles and services surged 9.1%, household articles and services gained 2.2%, and education, culture and recreation edged up 0.5%. Prices fell in the remaining five: clothing tumbled 5.5%, transportation and communication dropped 3.6%, food, tobacco, liquor and dining out fell 2.2%, while residence and healthcare each eased 0.4%.