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The politically tense move is part of a broader crusade in China to stem the loss of public services.
By Keith Bradsher
Reporting from Shanghai
China is taking the rare step of slashing user fares on four major high-speed rail lines, as part of its biggest move to tackle emerging costs and large debts since construction of the system began about two decades ago.
The increase in exercise ticket prices is part of a campaign to increase utility prices. Earlier this year, water and plant-based fuel expenses began to rise in some cities.
In China, local governments receive hefty public subsidies, but huge municipal debts mean those governments have less cash to keep costs down.
Rising costs may stem the losses of some giant state-owned corporations that provide those services. And getting consumers to pay more is helping to offset the decline in costs that is widespread in the Chinese economy as expansion slows.
China already has particularly higher electricity rates since 2021 for many factories, even as residential consumers continue to pay low electricity rates.
“All the big factories are now paying the market price,” said David Fishman, senior director in Shanghai at Lantau Group, a Singapore-based energy consultancy.
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