Chinese data released Thursday showed price pressures were abating as a weakening economy affected growth for industrial production and as consumption, strengthening calls for Beijing to respond by further loosening its monetary policy. Aided by falling food prices, the consumer price index rose 1.8% in July from the year-ago period, the slowest increase since January 2010, according to data from FactSet, and a decrease from June’s 2.2% increase. The monthly producer price index dropped 2.9% a year earlier, accelerating from a 2.1% deflation recorded in June, figures released Thursday morning by the National Bureau ... (full story)