China's consumer prices rose for the fourth straight month in May. But deflationary pressure remains, as people are increasingly opting to save money.

The National Bureau of Statistics says the consumer price index was up 0.3 percent from a year earlier.

Stronger demand for travel raised the cost of related services. Higher gasoline prices were also among the key factors.

In contrast, the prices of automobiles and smartphones continued to fall, while sluggish housing sales pushed down the prices of furniture and home appliances.

The Chinese government is making local governments buy unsold homes to revive the real-estate industry.

It's also encouraging consumers to replace old cars and household appliances to boost domestic demand.

Meanwhile, the producer price index in May fell 1.4 percent year-on-year, marking the 20th consecutive month of decline. The PPI is a gauge of changes in the prices of goods at factory gates.