BEIJING, May 14 -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the Chinese government registered lower prices in early May compared with late April this year, official data showed Sunday.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, eight reported rising prices during the period, while 42 registered lower prices, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Hog prices dropped 2 percent in early May compared with that in late April, according to the NBS.

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