Inflation China 1998

Average inflation: -0.8%

Current Inflation

There is deflation with consumer prices declining by 0.8%.

Peak and Trough

The highest inflation was in March at 0.7%. The lowest inflation was in September at -1.5%.

Highest month
March: 0.7%
Lowest month
September: -1.5%
Difference
2.2 percentage points
Months with data
12 of 12

Category Insights

The highest price increase was in Food and non-alcoholic beverages with an average of -3.2%. The lowest price increase was in Food and non-alcoholic beverages with an average of -3.2%.

Highest increase
Food and non-alcoholic beverages: -3.2%
Lowest increase
Food and non-alcoholic beverages: -3.2%

Historical Context

Current inflation is 11.1% lower than the 5-year average of 10.3%.

5-year average
10.3%
10-year average
9.8%
All-time high (1994)
24.2%
All-time low (1998)
-0.8%

Trend

Inflation shows a downward trend. Compared to 1997, inflation has fallen by +3.6 percentage point.

Change vs. previous year
-3.6 percentage points
Largest monthly swing
February: -6.6 percentage points

ECB Target

Inflation is 2.8% below the ECB target of 2.0%. Too low inflation may indicate economic weakness.

Purchasing Power

Due to deflation, purchasing power increases. Money becomes more valuable instead of less.

What you could buy for €100 this year will cost approximately €99.20 next year at this inflation rate.

Multi-year trend

Monthly figures 1998

Inflation by category

Food and non-alcoholic beverages
-3.2%
-2.4vs avg.
More details →

Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.

Month overview

Month Inflation Difference vs. 1997
January 0.3% -5.6
February -1.0% -6.6
March 0.7% -3.3
April -0.3% -3.5
May -1.0% -3.8
June -1.3% -4.1
July -1.4% -4.1
August -1.4% -3.3
September -1.5% -3.3
October -1.1% -2.6
November -1.2% -2.3
December -1.0% -1.4
Average -0.8%

Data source

Data from OECD. Last updated: 19/12/2025.

See also