Means of production prices fall in China

Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted lower prices in early May compared with the previous 10 days, data showed Tuesday.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 29 saw their prices fall during May 1 to 10, while 12 posted higher prices and nine were unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Prices of live pigs went up 0.7 percent while liquefied natural gas dropped 3.1 percent.

The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 1,700 wholesalers and distributors in 24 provincial-level regions.