China's hog prices soften in mid-December

BEIJING - The price of live pigs in China fell 2.8 percent in mid-December compared with the previous 10 days, official data showed.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 21 saw their prices increase during the period, 23 posted lower prices and six saw their prices unchanged.

The price of liquefied petroleum gas went up 7.7 percent, while prices of most chemical and coal products declined in the period, showed the data.

The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 1,700 wholesalers and distributors in 24 provincial-level regions.