NBS Service Industry Survey Center chief statistician Huo Lihui said July price
indices continued to decline. The purchase-price index for major raw materials
was 53.2 and the factory-gate price index 47.8, both down for a fourth month
amid recent commodity-price volatility. Price indices for non-ferrous metal
smelting and rolling were both below 45.0. Large price swings weakened firms’
procurement intent, pulling the purchasing-volume index down to 49.4.