China’s consumer inflation weakened further toward zero, decelerating for a fourth straight month in a setback for government efforts to stamp out deflation and revive demand by injecting stimulus into the economy.

China narrowly avoided slipping into deflation in December with inflation rising at its slowest pace in nine months, official figures showed on Thursday, as officials struggle to kick-start consumer activity in the world’s number-two economy.

China's consumer inflation slowed in December, leading to modest annual price gains for 2024 while factory-gate deflation extended into a second year, amid sputtering economic demand. A combination of job insecurity,

China’s consumer inflation weakened further toward zero, decelerating for a fourth straight month in a setback for government efforts to drive up demand by injecting stimulus into the economy.