BEIJING -- A series of measures have been taken to regulate the daily necessities market in an effort to curb sharp price fluctuations this year, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Monday.

The measures are based on macro-control expectations and are in line with economic development needs, the MOC said in a statement posted on its website.

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The MOC has purchased pork from the market five times this year to prop up prices, the statement said, adding that it also released 62,400 tonnes of pork reserves into the market in the second half of the year to meet holiday demand.

Wholesale pork prices in 36 major cities declined 0.4 percent year on year in the first ten months.

MOC also sold 500 tonnes of sheep from the state reserve for a fast-breaking festival in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

MOC processed up to 1.71 million tonnes of state-reserved raw sugar this year, releasing 1.62 million tonnes of reserve sugar into the market.

The sugar price stabilized at 6,800 yuan per tonne after having risen to 7,500 yuan per tonne, the MOC said.

To ensure vegetable supplies in winter and spring, the MOC has worked with relevant agricultural departments to promote links between big distribution enterprises in major production areas and those in major purchasing areas, the statement said.