BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted higher prices in early December compared with the previous 10 days, official data showed Monday.

Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 29 saw their prices increase during the period, 18 posted lower prices and three saw their prices unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The price of live pigs increased 7.3 percent while that of liquefied natural gas went up 2.3 percent, showed the data.

Prices of most steel products and farm produce declined in the period.

The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 1,700 wholesalers and distributors in 24 provincial-level regions.