Andy attributed the increases in food prices to shortages caused by recent bad weather in China, not excess demand due to an overheating economy.
FORBES: China's November Inflation Rate Jumps To 5.1 Percent
Although the corn market most closely tracks news and weather in the US, any weather related crop disasters in China would at least lend support to corn prices.
Beijing has launched a firework safety index during the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays that advises against setting off fireworks and firecrackers in poor weather conditions, China Daily reports.
China experienced harsh weather early in the year and floods in the summer.
Some blame bad weather, such as the October floods in China's Hainan province, which damaged crops and helped raise food prices.
ECONOMIST: Memories of 2008 are influencing Asia��s policymakers
As Andy said last month, inflation in China this year is a weather phenomenon, with monetary policy playing a supporting role.
FORBES: China's November Inflation Rate Jumps To 5.1 Percent
The confusion over the government's role in the latest blizzard reflects both the scope of China's weather-modification efforts, and the aura of almost mystical ability that surrounds them in the minds of many Chinese and foreign observers.
First of all, Andy believes that inflation in China this time around is primarily a weather phenomenon, with monetary policy playing a supporting role.
Superstorm Sandy in the United States, drought in Africa's Sahel, a bitter cold snap in Europe and floods in China were just some of the severe weather events of 2012.
China launched the Feng Yun 1C polar orbit weather satellite in 1999.
China's weather-modification experts have published relatively little in English.
More than 5, 000 years ago, courtyards were built in the Middle East and China as a protective mechanism both from harsh weather and unfriendly neighbors, says John Reynolds, a professor emeritus of architecture at the University of Oregon.
应用推荐