China's average consumer price rises will be around 4 percent in 2011 but inflation will not be malicious, Yao Jingyuan, chief economist at the National Statistics Bureau, said in remarks published on Monday.

China had recorded seven years of bumper harvest in grains, laying a good foundation to help stabilise prices, Yao was quoted by the official Shanghai Securities News as saying.

Supplies of most industrial products are currently exceeding demand, which would also set a ceiling on prices, Yao was quoted as telling an industry seminar.