Factory and consumer inflation in China picked up in April, a positive sign for the world's number two economy, though analysts warned real demand remained subdued.
China has struggled to get prices to rise in recent months, with both measures staying stubbornly low as global growth cools leading to weak demand and a trade war with the US festers.
Data released today showed the consumer price index (CPI) - a key measure of retail inflation - rose 2.5% on an annual basis, up from 2.3% in March.
The gain came on the back of soaring pork prices - rising 14.4 percent on-year - due to an outbreak of African swine flu in China that has led to the culling of a million pigs.
Prices of other fresh meats, fruit and vegetables also increased.
Analysts said the rapid spread of African swine fever since last August could help push up pork prices by another 40% over the next six months, adding that the rise of inflation is being driven by a surge in pork prices as a result of the supply shock.
Meanwhile, China's producer price index - an important barometer of domestic demand - climbed 0.9% from 0.4% in March.
The CPI reading was in line with forecasts in a Bloomberg survey while the PPI reading came in above the forecast 0.6%.
Economic growth in the first quarter stabilised at 6.4% in China after falling to 6.6% last year, its lowest annual rate in almost three decades.
