China's CPI up 0.5 percent in January

China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.5 percent year on year in January, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Sunday.

In urban areas, the CPI rose by 0.6 percent, while in rural regions, it increased by 0.3 percent. Food prices saw a rise of 0.4 percent, and non-food prices went up by 0.5 percent.

In the month, consumer goods prices edged up by 0.1 percent while service prices increased by 1.1 percent year on year, according to the NBS.

On a month-on-month basis, the CPI increased by 0.7 percent in January, with urban and rural areas experiencing growths of 0.8 and 0.5 percent respectively over the previous month.

Food prices rose by 1.3 percent, while non-food prices went up for 0.6 percent over December 2024. In the month, consumer goods prices increased by 0.6 percent while service prices went up by 0.9 percent over December 2024, according to the NBS.

China's CPI up 0.5 percent in January

China's CPI up 0.5 percent in January

China's CPI up 0.5 percent in January

China's CPI up 0.5 percent in January

China's CPI up 0.5 percent in January

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market