China's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 1.8 percent in July, a monthly report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Thursday.

The CPI, a major index for inflation, rose by 1.6 percent in urban areas and 2.2 percent in rural areas, and the combined consumer price level between January and July went up 2.2 percent year-on-year, according to NBS figures.

In July, food prices rose 2.3 percent year-on-year, while non-food prices went up 1.5 percent; consumer product prices increased 1.2 percent, while service product prices went up 3.9 percent.

Among foodstuff, the price of food grain dropped 0.9 percent; however, that of poultry and meat rose 0.9 percent; egg's price reported a rise of 4.8 percent, and that of aquatics, up 2.3 percent, and vegetables, 15.5 percent.

The CPIs for transportation and communications dropped 1.0 percent, and those for recreational, educational and cultural goods and service rose 2.9 percent.

The CPIs for housing went up 5.9 percent. In a breakdown, the prices of tap water, electricity and fuel saw an 8.9 percent year-on-year rise, with the price of construction and furnishing materials climbing 2.9 percent and the housing rental price increasing 2.2 percent.

Source: Xinhua