China's inflation may be 3 percent this year, lower than the official 3.5 percent target, as weaker demand and abundant food supply will partly offset inflationary pressure, according to the top economic planning body.

The prices of raw materials and resources are expected to decline in the first three months of this year due to slower economic growth in 2012, the price monitoring unit of the National Development and Reform Commission said in a report yesterday published in the China Securities Journal.

For the first quarter, consumer prices may rise about 2.8 percent from the same period a year earlier, while inflation is expected to accelerate gradually in the following quarters to above 3 percent by the year-end, the report said.

Higher inflation is expected due to a rebound in the property market, rising labor cost, adjustment of pricing mechanism for oil, electricity and gas, and an over-abundant global liquidity caused by an easy monetary stance of major economies.

The report pointed out the public expects price changes to shift from downward to upward. "The reality and public mentality will both trigger price rises this year."

Last week, Premier Wen Jiabao set the targets for annual inflation this year at 3.5 percent and economic growth at 7.5 percent. The respective targets were 2.6 percent and 7.8 percent last year.

Standard Chartered Bank projects inflation may hit 4 percent this year and GDP growth 8.3 percent.

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