BEIJING — Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted lower prices in late July compared with mid-July this year, official data showed on Aug 4.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer, and some agricultural products mainly used for processing, 15 saw their prices increase, while 32 posted lower prices, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Sulfuric acid led the downward trend with a 21.9-percent decline in prices.

Hog prices dropped 6.2 percent during the period to 21.2 yuan (about $3.1) 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.