Macroeconomics Food Prices Up Year-On-Year by 1.6 Percent in January The cost of food rose at a faster rate in January than in December when it ticked up by 1.2 percent. This is the largest increase since last October and marks three consecutive months of higher prices relative to a year ago. Driving up the overall cost of food were eggs, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, cooking oil, and dairy products, which saw increases of 1.2 percent, 1.3 percent, 10.9 percent, 6 percent, and 1.7, respectively. Pork prices cooled for the second consecutive month and fell by 3.9 percent from a year ago.   Aside from the cost of food, core consumer prices in China actually contracted in January, declining by .3 percent. Meanwhile, producer pric...