Beijing, China (AHN) – Inflation in China is running at a 34-month high fueled by increases in food prices that are hitting consumers hard there despite efforts by the government to curb the rise.

A sharp increase of 11.7 percent for food prices led the increase in the consumer price index.

Chinese consumers saw prices rise by 5.5 percent in May compared to the same month a year ago, National Bureau of Statistics officials announced Tuesday.

In addition, analysts do not see an end in sight any time soon and forecast a CPI increase of 6 percent for June.

Chinese authorities have set a target of 4 percent inflation rate for the year, but the May figures pushed that to 5.2 percent on an annual basis so far.

The central bank is expected to raise interest rates again to try to achieve the 4 percent annual inflation rate goal for the year. However, the central bank has already raised interest rates four times since October in an effort to cut lending and rein in inflation.

Food prices account for one-third of the CPI. The 11.7 percent increase in May compared to a year earlier came on top of an increase of 11.5 percent in April from the same period in 2010.

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