BEIJING - Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted higher prices in early April compared with late March this year, official data showed.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 27 saw an increase in their prices, while 22 posted lower prices, and the price of one remained unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Hog prices went down 11.9 percent during the period.

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