BEIJING — Things that keep China’s top leaders up at night: a stalling economy, a bruising trade war and, increasingly, pigs.

Specifically, a shortage of pigs, which is fast becoming a national crisis.

The price of pork has been rising for months, and it is now nearly 50 percent higher than it was a year ago, data published on Tuesday showed. Consumers are frustrated, and officials are quietly expressing alarm as they fight the outbreak of a disease that is devastating the country’s pig population and causing the shortage.

China’s premier, Li Keqiang, and the country’s top governing body have called for “an attitude of urgency” to deal with the issue. Another top official labeled the problem a “national priority” last month. At least three local governments have tapped the country’s strategic pork reserves to ensure that consumers can keep eating the meat without breaking the bank, according to local news reports.

(Yes, China has strategic pork reserves. Pork is that important here.)

Even with these measures, consumers are being hit hard at a time when grocery bills are already going up thanks to the trade war with the United States.