Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng yesterday reiterated that the city will take every practical measure to ensure stable food prices.

His announcement came in response to a televised conference held by the State Council which called for nationwide efforts to ensure the food supply and enhance price monitoring.

Han said the city government would launch temporary pricing intervention if needed based on price monitoring results.

Food prices and costs will be closely monitored to ensure that producers charge rational prices while large state-owned enterprises are required to play their role as main suppliers.

Those found spreading rumors of food hikes, colluding to raise prices, giving short weight, hoarding products and committing other wrongdoings that disturb market order will be severely punished, according to Han.

Authorities will increase subsidies to people with financial difficulties to minimize the impact of price rises on their lives and prevent price surges in university canteens.

China's Consumer Price Index in November soared 6.9 percent from a year earlier, close to an 11-year high. Food prices, which make up about one-third of the CPI basket, rose 18.2 percent, compared with a 17.6-percent gain in October.