Vegetable prices in wholesale markets have risen slightly for eight consecutive weeks.

According to the monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture, in the 34th week of 2016 (22-28 August 2016, the same below), the "National Wholesale Price Index of Agricultural products" was 205.51 (compared with 2000), an increase of 1.80 points over the previous week; and the "National Wholesale Price Index of vegetable basket products" was 207.36 (compared with 2000), an increase of 2.06 points over the previous week, of which eggs and vegetables contributed the most. The total trading volume of 60 varieties in 50 key wholesale markets was 598700 tons, down 0.8 per cent from the previous week.

The price of eggs continues to rise. The average weekly price of eggs is 7.81 yuan per kilogram, up 7.4% from the previous month, an increase of 3.7 percentage points, and a decrease of 14.6% over the same period last year. The market reflects that the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival and the increasing demand for schools around the country have contributed to a continuous rise in egg prices recently; pork is 25.15 yuan per kilogram, which is basically the same as the previous month, 2.2% higher than the same period last year; beef 53.28 yuan per kilogram, up 0.3%, 0.8% lower than the same period last year Mutton is 44.30 yuan per kilogram, up 1.1 percent from the previous month and 7.3 percent lower than the same period last year; white-striped chicken is 14.84 yuan per kilogram, up 0.5 percent from the previous month and 1.6 percent higher than the same period last year. The weekly trading volume of the above five animal products (the total trading volume of 50 key wholesale markets, the same below) was 16400 tons, an increase of 7.9% over the previous month.

The prices of aquatic products are mixed. The weekly average prices of silver carp, crucian carp, grass carp and carp were 6.96 yuan, 18.00 yuan, 13.02 yuan and 11.59 yuan respectively, up 1.5%, 0.4%, 0.2% and 0.1% respectively over the previous month. The weekly average prices of silver carp, large belt fish and large yellow croaker were 11.73 yuan, 31.60 yuan and 43.94 yuan per kilogram, respectively, down 1.5%, 1.0% and 0.6% respectively. The weekly trading volume of seven kinds of aquatic products was 12300 tons, unchanged from the previous month.

The average price of vegetables continues to rise. The average weekly price of 28 kinds of vegetables monitored was 3.80 yuan per kilogram, up 4.1% from the previous month, a slight increase for the eighth consecutive week and 2.3% lower than the same period last year. In terms of varieties, the prices of 19 kinds of vegetables rose, 1 remained flat, and 8 fell. Among them, cucumbers, zucchini, cauliflower and shiitake mushrooms increased by 18.1%, 14.3%, 11.5% and 10.0%, respectively, while potatoes were basically flat. Leek and lotus root fell 3.9% and 3.7%, respectively. The weekly trading volume of 28 kinds of vegetables was 437700 tons, an increase of 2.3% over the previous month.

The average price of fruit is flat and slightly higher. The weekly average prices of seven kinds of fruits monitored were 4.89 yuan per kilogram, up 0.2% from the previous month and 6.0% lower than the same period last year. In terms of varieties, the weekly average prices of bananas, pears and pineapples rose 3.8%, 1.0% and 0.9% respectively, while watermelons, Fuji apples and Jufeng grapes fell 2.9%, 0.9% and 0.9% respectively. The weekly trading volume of seven kinds of fruits was 117000 tons, down 13.1% from the previous month.