Bloomberg) -- For families across China preparing for Lunar New Year, the most important celebration in the calendar, pork is a must. An ingredient synonymous with prosperity and abundance, it’s used in countless dishes and cured for festive delicacies.
But in Beijing’s Xinmin market, vendor Wu Aizhen is struggling. Though pork prices have fallen by about a fifth compared to a year ago, she is selling a third less than she would in a normal holiday season.