From CCTV:Easing inflation over the last few months may be good news for China's power regulator. It's saying continued falls in the growth rate of the Consumer Price Index leaves ample room for hikes in the retail prices of electricity. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission says it's mulling over hiking retail electricity prices. Experts say plans to adjust prices could be due to the 14-month low in CPI growth rate hit in August.......

China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines say not in merger talks [AFP] "China Eastern Airlines and smaller rival Shanghai Airlines said Wednesday they were not in talks on a possible merger, responding to reports that the two might join forces."China inflation drops as trade surplus hits record high [AFP] "The figures have pushed the case for Beijing to boost growth, economists said, following months of efforts by policymakers to slow down the world's fourth largest economy and......

From Beijing-based techie Frank Yu: "iPhones for sale in Beijing. 1st Gen 8 gig iPhone USD 735. 2nd Gen 8 gig 3G iPhone USD 1,176. The Older iPhones rose almost 42% since 3G." [Source]......

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Effective today, China will raise gasoline and diesel fuel prices 16 percent and 18 percent, respectively, news that sent global oil prices down nearly US$5 a barrel. Electricity prices are also expected to rise sharply. Reuters offers a poorly displayed chart that shows China's domestic gasoline prices, fixed since November 1, have climbed 95 percent and diesel prices have more than doubled since 2003. Retail fuel prices in China are expected to increase to $3.05......

We know that this sounds like an April fool, but China could be facing a rice shortage. No, seriously. We told you a few days ago about KFC upping their prices; now the cost of the other staple in Shanghaiist's diet, rice, could be facing a hike due to fears over supply. For the moment, the government has frozen the price of rice — as well as that of other goods such as cooking oil......

BBC's take on inflation in China includes footage of the Chongqing Carrefour stampede for cooking oil that we haven't seen before.......

A stampede in a Chongqing Carrefour hypermart has left 3 dead, 24 injured and another 7 seriously injured. The culprit? Cooking oil. As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, a 5-litre bottle of cooking oil that was originally priced at RMB51.40 was to be sold at only RMB39.90. This news was enough to get Chongqingers to start queueing from as early as 4am in the morning. Sometime around 8.20am when the doors were finally open,......