Chart of the Day: Higher Vegetable Prices, Higher Inflation Expectations

Vegetable prices have climbed more than usual this summer, heating expectations for higher inflation.

Recent widespread flooding in a major vegetable-producing region in East China has also stoked inflation fears.

From Aug. 20 to Sunday, the average price for 28 monitored vegetables rose 8% from a week earlier to 4.19 yuan per kilogram (28 U.S. cents per pound), marking the eighth consecutive weekly increase, according to a government-backed information system tracking agricultural product prices. This price was 9.1% higher than the average level during the same period over the past five years.

On Wednesday, the average price for monitored vegetables continued to rise, standing at 4.26 yuan per kilogram.