China's factory-gate inflation cooled at a more than expected rate in January and consumer price growth also eased, official data showed Wednesday, amid weakening property sector demand, new coronavirus curbs and government efforts to rein in surging materials costs.

The producer price index (PPI) increased 9.1% from a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in a statement, slower than the 9.5% growth tipped by a Reuters poll and a 10.3% gain in December. It was the weakest pace since July.

While producer prices in the world's second-largest economy remain elevated thanks to critical supply issues and home and abroad, China's relatively benign consumer inflation contrasts with cost pressures seen in most other economies.

Policies to ensure supply and price stability were "vigorously promoted" to ease pressure from rising oil and commodity prices in international markets, NBS' senior statistician Dong Lijuan said in a statement.

Analysts believe cooling inflation could provide room for the People's Bank of China (PBOC) to ease policy to support the slowing economy, even as major central banks elsewhere tighten policy.

"Inflation concerns are unlikely to hold back the (People's Bank of China) from more policy loosening measures," said Sheana Yue, China Economist at Capital Economics.

China's consumer price index (CPI) inched up 0.9% last month from a year earlier. Economists in a Reuters poll had expected a 1% rise following a 1.5% uptick in December.

"Lower inflation reflects the weak domestic demand," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. "Macro policies have turned more supportive but it takes time for the impact to be transmitted to the economy."

He also said that "the downturn in the property cycle and the COVID-19 outbreaks in multiple cities curbed economic activities."

The Chinese economy, particularly its vast manufacturing sector, has struggled with elevated production costs due to high global energy prices.

In January, coal mining and washing prices surged 51.3% year-over-year and oil and gas extraction prices jumped 38.2%.

Vow to keep prices under control

China's state planner earlier this month said global inflation is likely to persist for some time, but expressed confidence in the country's ability to cope with abnormal price fluctuations.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it expects producer price inflation to slow further this year while consumer price inflation picks up.

Dong said consumer prices remained largely stable ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

The official data followed a warning on inflation from Premier Li Keqiang on Monday at a State Council meeting.

"We are confident and capable of tackling inflation, but we must stay on alert," he said, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

"Should inflation occur, it would cause a major impact on the society. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure supply and keep prices stable."

The Xinhua report on the meeting said the government will make efforts to ensure food and energy security, including the increase of coal supply and support for coal-fired plants to run at full capacity.

Luxury to ease

The PBOC has cut interest rates and pumped cash into the financial system to lower borrowing costs, with more easing steps expected.

The drop in inflation opens room for further policy easing, said Zhiwei, adding that further interest rate cuts could be expected in the coming months.

Capital Economics' Yue expects further policy rate cuts before the middle of the year.

The scope to ease is a rare luxury enjoyed by China, in contrast to developed central banks, which have either begun raising interest rates or are widely expected to this year.

At the same time, policymakers are wary of loosening credit conditions too much and too fast, which could re-ignite speculation-driven spikes in property prices.

The property sector has cooled due to curbs on borrowing by developers and increasingly wary buyers.

"On interest rate cuts, policymakers do not want to undo all the results they achieved last year in the property market," said Nie Wen, chief economist at Hwabao Trust.

"They finally managed to curb the fast-rising (property) prices, so any cuts to interest rates will be structural and aimed at supporting the real economy, rather than further stimulating the property market."