Upon returning to work at the end of the Spring Festival holiday, Lin Ruiqi noticed that the prices of his favorite fast food had been increased again.

"The price of a set lunch, especially if it has beef in it, rose by 3-4 yuan (42-56 cents), which is 30-40 percent more compared with the price a year ago," the 26-year-old law clerk, who orders takeaway meals from nearby fast-food restaurants every day, said.

"The restaurants pass on their rising operational costs to the consumers, making us the ultimate victims," Lin said.