The consumer price index (CPI) of Shanxi province rose by 0.7 percent over the same period last year, a low rise that may have been restrained by a weak growth of food prices.

Though there is an obvious rise in the price of vegetables in November due to shortness of supply, the prices of pork, grain, and fruit continued to go downward, resulting in a small growth of 0.5 percent in terms of food prices.

Although prices fell in transportation and communication, the prices of clothing and medical service increased, adding to the rise in the CPI. Winter clothing rose by 2.9 percent year-on-year, and ward bed fees were up by 8.8 percent because of heating.

In addition, as flu occurs more frequently in winter due to the dry and cold weather, the price of traditional Chinese medicines grew by 1.7 percent and western medicine rose by 4.6 percent over the same period last year.

In general, clothing and medical service jointly drove the province's November CPI up by 0.5 percent.