Vegetable prices in major Chinese cities have increased rapidly before the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 29 this year, the Department of Market Operation under the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

According to the official figures, on Jan. 23, the average wholesale price of 20 major categories of vegetables in 36 large and medium-sized cities stood at 3.32 yuan (US$0.41) per kg, up 10.3 percent over that a week ago, and almost 30 percent over that a year ago.

The vegetable prices in some cities such as Beijing, Zhengzhou, Jinan and Urumqi grew 15 percent to 20 percent in a week.

The department attributed the vegetable price surge to vegetable output decrease caused by frigid weather, traffic congestion caused by rainy and snowy weather, and the soaring demand before the Spring Festival.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)