BEIJING -- Farm produce prices in 36 major Chinese cities dropped slightly in the week ending November 24 compared with the previous week, according to a Ministry of Commerce statement.

The average wholesale prices of 18 kinds of vegetables shed 1 percent from a week earlier with the prices of tomato and lettuce dropping 8.5 percent and 6 percent respectively.

The average wholesale price of aquatic products dropped 0.8 percent and the price of eggs shrank 0.2 percent.

The cost of pork went up 0.4 percent, while beef and mutton went up 0.3 percent and 0.2 percent respectively.

Food accounts for about one third of China's consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation.

The CPI grew 3.2 percent year on year in October, up from 3.1 percent in September, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.