China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, is expected to grow by about 2.5 percent for the first half of this year, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement released here Tuesday.

The top economic planner projected a 3 percent increase for May and June due to carryover effects, or negative CPI growth in the same period last year and 1.9 percent growth last December.

China's CPI rose 2.8 percent in April, and 2.4 percent in the first four months this year.