BEIJING -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the Chinese government posted lower prices in early September compared with late August this year, official data showed Wednesday.

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, 24 saw their prices increase, while 26 posted lower prices, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Hog price gained 4.4 percent in early September to 23.5 yuan (about $3.4) 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.