The country’s consumer-price index fell 0.3% from a year earlier.

China’s downward price pressures eased in September, as Beijing ramped up efforts to curb excess capacity and push through consumer trade-in schemes to bolster domestic demand.

The country’s consumer-price index fell 0.3% from a year earlier last month, compared with the 0.4% drop in August, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed Wednesday. A poll of economists by The Wall Street Journal had predicted a 0.1% decline.

Meanwhile, the producer-price index dropped 2.3% from a year earlier in September, narrowing from the 2.9% fall in the prior month, but remaining in negative territory for three straight years. Surveyed economists had tipped a 2.4% decline.

Wednesday’s data came after Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday renewed a call to double down on boosting consumption and reiterated Beijing’s intentions to curb disorderly competition among businesses.

In a meeting with analysts and entrepreneurs focusing on the economy, Li said the central government will step up support for export-focused sectors and investment, adding that China must strive to meet its annual growth targets.

While acknowledging a challenging external environment and headwinds to the economy, Li fell short of announcing any stimulus measures despite a recent flare-up in China-U.S. trade tensions that threatens to dent Chinese exports, which have defied downbeat expectations for much of the year.

Economists say the narrowing drop in prices suggest that Beijing’s recent moves to rein in corporate price wars are starting to have some effect, helped by consumer subsidy schemes. However, favorable base effects could have supported increases in prices last month, and domestic consumption may continue to be weak.