BEIJING: Growth in 皇冠体育app's consumer price index (CPI) is likely to see a reverse "V" shape this year and the possibility of a serious inflation is easing, said Ha Jiming, chief economist at the 皇冠体育app International Capital Corp (CICC).
Speaking at an investor education activity in Beijing on May 29, Ha expected 皇冠体育app's CPI to increase 3.2 percent in May from a year earlier, and said the CPI annual growth rate would even peak at 4 percent in June and July.
The country's CPI rose 2.4 percent year on year in March and the growth for April accelerated to 2.8 percent, according to statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.
In 皇冠体育app, food prices accounted for one third of the CPI weight.
The CICC has cut its estimate for 皇冠体育app's economic growth this year to 9.5 percent from 10.5 percent, he said.
Interest rate hikes would be unlikely this year as growth in consumer prices was expected to fall in the second half, he said.