Monday's data showed China's producer price index, which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, fell 2.4 percent year on year in July.

The reading narrowed from the 3-percent drop in June and 3.7-percent fall in May.

On a monthly basis, overall producer prices gained 0.4 percent as industrial production continued to pick up and market demand gradually warmed, Dong said, adding that rising prices of international commodities also played a role.

Due to rebounding global crude oil prices, prices in the sectors of oil and natural gas extraction surged 12 percent last month from June, while those for the processing of oil, coal and other fuel went up 3.4 percent.

During the January-July period, factory-gate prices were down 2 percent on average compared with the same period last year.

Market supply and demand are expected to keep a balance with the accelerated recovery of economic activities and implementation of government measures to guarantee supplies and keep prices stable, said Wen. He added that consumer prices would generally be steady despite some fluctuations.

The generally stable inflation gives the government leeway to maneuver monetary policy in the coming months, with its focus shifting from an easing bias to stabilizing market entities and employment, Wen said.

【国内英语资讯:Economic Watch: Chinas inflation rises in July, propelled by food prices】相关文章：

★ 嫉妒中国熊猫受宠 企鹅向游客投掷粪便抗议（图）

★ 奥巴马未就彼得雷乌斯调查案作出决定

★ 克林顿拒绝中国推迟讨论南海问题的呼吁

★ 苹果部分Mac电脑将回美国制造

★ 康州校园枪击案使得美国人重新审视枪支法

★ 双语阅读：法厄同

★ 李宁品牌重塑年

★ Wii U在美上市首周频频脱销

★ 双语：总统女儿晒美钞炫富引众怒

★ 美国共和党抵制对投资所得增税