China's consumer inflation slowed in December, leading to modest annual price gains for 2024 while factory-gate deflation extended into a second year, amid sputtering economic demand. A combination of job insecurity,

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's consumer inflation slowed in December, while producer price deflation persisted, as Beijing ramped up policy support to bolster a faltering economy.

China narrowly avoided slipping into deflation in December with inflation rising at its slowest pace in nine months, official figures showed on Thursday, as officials struggle to kick-start consumer activity in the world’s number-two economy.

China’s consumer inflation weakened further toward zero, decelerating for a fourth straight month in a setback for government efforts to stamp out deflation and revive demand by injecting stimulus into the economy.