2026.04.1001:30:00UTC+00China’s Factory-Gate Prices Turn Positive, Signaling Possible End to Producer Deflation

China’s Producer Price Index (PPI) returned to positive territory in March 2026, raising hopes that a long stretch of producer-level deflation may be easing in the world’s second-largest economy.

Year-over-year, China’s PPI rose by 0.5% in March 2026, compared with a 0.9% decline in February 2026. Both figures measure price changes relative to the same month a year earlier. The latest data, updated on 10 April 2026, mark a notable turnaround from February’s negative reading, suggesting improving pricing power among Chinese manufacturers.

While the PPI rebound does not by itself confirm a sustained inflation trend, the move into positive territory may point to stabilizing demand conditions at home or abroad and provides an encouraging signal for China’s industrial sector and profit margins. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming releases closely to see if March’s upturn proves durable.