China’s consumer price index climbed 1.8 percent in January from the year prior, which was a 0.2 percent rise from December but 0.1 percent less than expected, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The slight rise was primarily due to a 4.1 percent seasonal increase in food prices preceding the Lunar New Year celebration. Pro Farmers First Thing Today reports non-food consumer inflation was up just 1.2 percent in January from the year prior. The producer price index was down 5.3 percent from year-ago levels in January, which was a bit better than expectations for a 5.4 percent decline and a 0.6 percent improvement from December. Most believe the data adds to the case for more monetary policy easing.