economy - Consumer prices remain stable

Consumer prices in Shanghai have been pretty stable, according to my first observations. While steel, fuel and other construction material have gone up in price because of the ongoing boom in China, that is not yet reflected in the prices the consumers pay.
A coffee at Starbucks, a visit to the hairdresser (an excellent way to start the week in Shanghai) and the larger food chain still ask the same prices.
Some prices went up, says marketing manager Scott Shi. He just bought a new apartment and had to refurnish his place. "Copper was 30 percent more expensive than two months ago, but otherwise I see no change," he says.
The difference lays more in the money you can spend nowadays in Shanghai. This morning I had a minimal breakfast for 1.4 Renminbi, about one percent of the costs of a very nice dinner yesterday evening. But that is not really inflation, is it?