Chinese inflation accelerates for first time in months
Higher energy and food prices pushed inflation up, adding to cost worries in a country that until recently was threatened with deflation. China’s inflation accelerated for the first time in months, compounding the economic difficulties for millions of people. Analysts fear that a protracted conflict in the Middle East could pile more pressure on China, the world’s biggest oil importer, adding to the squeeze on households at a time when youth unemployment is at almost 18%. Millions have taken to criticizing authorities on social media, despite the risks of retribution. In the past, a single critique of China’s leadership would have been noteworthy; “ today, you see so much of it that it barely even registers anymore, ” an analyst said.
Higher energy and food prices pushed inflation up, adding to cost worries in a country that until recently was threatened with deflation. China’s inflation accelerated for the first time in months, compounding the economic difficulties for millions of people. Analysts fear that a protracted conflict in the Middle East could pile more pressure on China, the world’s biggest oil importer, adding to the squeeze on households at a time when youth unemployment is at almost 18%. Millions have taken to criticizing authorities on social media, despite the risks of retribution.
In the past, a single critique of China’s leadership would have been noteworthy; “ today, you see so much of it that it barely even registers anymore, ” an analyst said.