BEIJING — China’s consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 1.5 percent year-on-year in January, lifted by a rise in nonfood and service prices.

The rate was down from December’s 1.8 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Feb 9.

On a monthly basis, the index was up 0.6 percent, higher than the 0.3-percent in the previous month.

NBS statistician Sheng Guoqing attributed the growth mainly to rising nonfood and service prices, which climbed 2 percent and 2.3 percent year-on-year, respectively.

The month-on-month rise was mainly attributed to higher food prices, influenced by bad weather, according to Sheng.

In 2017, CPI rose 1.6 percent year on year, slower than 2 percent for 2016.