BEIJING, Dec. 15 -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the Chinese government posted higher prices in early December compared with late November this year, official data showed.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, which include seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer, and some agricultural products mainly used for processing, 29 saw their prices increase, while 18 posted lower prices, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Hog price dropped 2.2 percent in early December to 22 yuan (about 3.17 U.S. dollars) per kg.

The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions.