China consumer prices slump again, deepening deflation worries

China’s consumer prices fell for the fourth straight month in May, dropping 0.1% year‑on‑year, as stimulus efforts have yet to boost domestic demand. A price war in the auto sector and falling property prices added downward pressure. Producer prices also declined sharply, with factory‑gate deflation deepening to 3.3%. Despite strong exports, economists warn China must rely more on domestic consumption to fight deflation. Recent policy measures include interest rate cuts and reserve requirement reductions, while U.S.-China trade tensions remain unresolved despite a partial tariff rollback, CNBC has reported. Markets await potential further monetary easing and key financial policy announcements at an upcoming forum in Shanghai.