According to the watchdog of MOFCOM, last week (March 18-24), the market prices of the edible agricultural products in the whole country rose by 0.8% over the previous week and those of the means of production rose by 0.2% over the previous week.

   In the market of the edible agricultural products: the wholesale price of poultry increased differently. Among these, the prices of eggs and chicken were 8.17 and 16.41 yuan per kilogram, up 1.7% and 0.4% respectively over the previous week. The wholesale price of meat increased in general. Among these, the prices of pork and beef were 20.89 yuan and 56.79 yuan per kilogram over the previous week, up 2% and 0.2% over the previous week; the price of mutton was 55.35 yuan per kilogram, down 0.2%. The average wholesale price of 30 kinds of vegetables was 5.14 yuan per kilogram, up 0.6% over the previous week, with the prices of Chinese cabbage, pepper, and lettuce increasing the most by 9.2%, 6.4% and 6.3% respectively. The wholesale price of cereals rose slightly, with the prices of flour and rice up 0.3% and 0.2% over last week. The wholesale price of edible oil fluctuated slightly, with the prices of rapeseed oil and soybean oil up 0.4% and 0.1% respectively over the previous week and that of peanut oil down 0.3%. The wholesale price of aquatic products remained stable in general. Among these, the prices of large hairtail, large yellow croaker and chub rose by 0.9%, 0.8% and 0.1% respectively over the previous week and those of crucian and grass carp down by 0.3% and 0.1% respectively.

   In the market of production means, the price of non-ferrous metal increased by 0.9%, with the prices of aluminum, zinc and copper up 1.4%, 0.9% and 0.5%. The price of rubber rose by 0.5%, with the price of natural rubber up 1% and that of synthetic rubber down 0.2%. The price of chemical fertilizer rose by 0.4%, with the prices of urea and NPK up 0.4% and 0.1%. The price of steel rose by 0.3%. Among these, the prices of high-speed wire rod, screw-thread steel, and hot rolling strip steel were 4146 yuan, 4085 yuan, and 4113 yuan per ton respectively, up 0.5%, 0.4% and 0.2% respectively. The price of basic chemical raw materials was stable in general, with the prices of sulphuric acid and sodium carbonate up 0.7% and 0.1% respectively and those of methyl alcohol and polypropylene down 1.1% and 0.7%. The price of coal dropped by 0.3%, among which the prices of coking coal, steam coal and blind coal were 782 yuan, 601 yuan and 882 yuan per ton, down 0.9%, 0.2% and 0.1% respectively.