China has raised its gasoline prices five times since the beginning of this year and the price went up 17.3 percent year-on-year cumulatively, said a government report released Monday.

Gasoline prices have risen by 650 yuan (US$78) in the first nine months, noted the report from the National Development and Reform Commission.

The price hike of oil and chemical products has become the main factor driving up the production material price since the second quarter, said the report, replacing the steel price increase.

The ex-factory price of industrial commodities went up 5.4 percent in the first nine months while the consumer price index (CPI) went up two percent year-on-year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2005)