Chinese policymakers insisted that the latest hike in domestic gasoline prices was only meant to reflect fluctuations in the global oil market.

A 3 percent rise in gasoline prices at the pump is surely in line with global oil prices that have increased by more than 4 percent since the end of September.

The official explanation will help sell the ostensibly unpopular price hike to the booming number of drivers whose enthusiasm to buy cars unexpectedly enabled China to replace the United States as the world's largest auto market in 2009.