China's statistics authorities said Thursday it will release the country's key economic indicators, including the consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI), two to three days ahead of the original schedule starting July.

The move aims to shorten the time between the data compilation and release, reducing the risk of possible leaks and to better meet public demand for the economic data, said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in an online statement.

"We will try to publish monthly data within 24 hours of its compilation," the statement said.

The adjustment came as the NBS vows to protect the confidentiality of economic figures after suspecting one of its staff may have previously leaked data.

According to the statement, monthly, quarterly and annual economic indicators will all be published two to three days in advance.

The NBS will post the monthly data, including CPI, PPI and a raft of other major economic data, on its website instead of in a press release on the ninth day of each month, it said.

In addition to the website releases, the NBS will publish quarterly and annual data such as gross domestic product in press releases, it added.

According to the new schedule posted in a separate statement, the NBS will release the June economic data on July 9, instead of July 15 as previously planned, and the first half-year economic data on July 13.

Monthly economic indicators for July, August, October and November will also be published on the ninth day of the following months, it said.

Besides, the NBS will release September's data on October 14 and the third-quarter data on October 18 due to the weeklong National Day holiday.

The country's CPI, a main gauge of inflation, rose 5.5 percent in May from the previous year, setting a 34-month high and well above the government's target ceiling of 4 percent for the year. It is widely expected to hit 6 percent in June.

To check the stubbornly-high inflation, the central bank has hiked the reserve requirement ratio six times and interest rates three time this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2011)