SHANGHAI, Nov 7 (Reuters) - China's consumer price index is expected to rise by about 1.4 percent next year, a think-tank expert said in a report in the official Shanghai Securities News on Saturday, a reflection of deflationary pressure.

Reflecting lacklustre demand and over capacity, September inflation was cooler than expected, prompting fears of deflation as the world's second-largest economy cools.

"In the round, over the next period, due to greater pressure from the economic downturn, overall stable consumer demand, deflationary pressures will continue to exist," said Sheng Xuping, an expert at the government think-tank the State Information Center.

Sheng expects consumer price inflation to rise 1.4 percent this year, far below Beijing's 3 percent target for the year, with the same percentage increase next year.

(Reporting by Engen Tham; Editing by Robert Birsel)