China's consumer price index rose 3 percent year-on-year in September. Consumers and businesses have been keeping a close eye on prices, especially those of pork as the industry reels from cases of swine fever.

In September alone, overall food prices climbed 11.2 percent. Pork prices saw the biggest rise – up more than 69 percent in September – 23 percent faster than in August.

Wang Kexin, a Beijing pork seller, said: "Pork sales have dropped 10 percent. We're only selling around 15 pieces per day."

A meat shortage struck after an outbreak of African swine fever, and a drop in the number of breeding pigs and productivity are behind the jump in pork prices.

Wang Jun, the head of Founder CIFCO Futures Research Institute, said that September also was right before National Day. People bought more chicken, pork, and eggs before the holiday, and the prices kept increasing.

The price of fresh fruit rose over 7 percent. But for vegetables, prices dropped by 2.4 percent. Cabbage, tomato, and lettuce prices have been at their lowest in five years. Production volumes for cabbage are 20 percent higher than last year.

Li Zhichang, a vegetable vendor, said: "The price of cabbage is about seven cents per 500 grams. That's about a 70 percent drop compared to last year, and the main reason is a large amount of produce."

But for pork, market watchers don't expect a reprieve in the high prices until next year.