The Western fast food chains KFC and Pizza Hut have raised their prices in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Prices of vegetable soup and salad are all up, as well as pizzas.

This is reported by the Beijing-based newspaper, The First.

A staff member at Pizza Hut says the rise is unavoidable. Part of the reason is the falling exchange rate of the dollar, compared with the Euro. The ingredients are mainly imported from the US and New Zealand.

Also, the increase of workers' salaries in Beijing also contributed to the price rise.

However, customers say the price rise won't kill their appetite for their favorite fast food.

Rival food chain McDonald's has not raised its food prices since it did so in 2003.

(CRI January 4, 2005)