China's prices at factory gates rise for first time in 4 1/2 years

Beijing

INFLATION in China picked up last month with prices at factory gates (also called the producers' price index or PPI) rising for the first time in 4 1/2 years.

The consumer price index edged up 1.9 per cent in September, and producer prices rose a surprising 0.1 per cent, led by rises in the cost of commodities such as coal and steel.