China's consumer and producer prices accelerated slightly in August but remained subdued, official data showed on Wednesday, as the world's second-largest economy grapples with weak domestic demand.

The consumer price index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, came in at 0.8% in August, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The figure was up from 0.5% in July and in line with a forecast from a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Beijing has battled a persistent slump in domestic spending since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CPI has remained below the current target of 2% for more than three years, slipping into negative territory several times during that period.

The sluggish activity has presented challenges to leaders aiming to maintain growth momentum, even as exports and various high-tech sectors perform strongly.

Prices paid at the factory gate also picked up in August, the NBS figures showed, expanding 3.8% year-over-year.

That was faster than July's 3.5% and topped the 3.6% forecast in the Bloomberg survey.

The readings come a day after data showed China's imports and exports surged last month.

Overseas shipments have been boosted this year by heightened global demand for technology products amid the artificial intelligence boom.

Beijing is targeting economic growth of 4.5% to 5% this year, a pace that would outstrip most developed economies but rank among the lowest in decades for China.

The economy expanded just 4.3% in the second quarter, missing forecasts and marking its weakest pace in more than three years.