Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI (103.01) for March 2010 increased by 1.88% year-on-year, attributable to the price increase of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages. Price indices of Transport; Clothing & Footwear; Miscellaneous Goods & Services and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose by 8.40%, 5.51%, 5.45% and 4.11% respectively, on account of dear prices of gasoline and new arrival of Spring clothing, rising gold prices and higher charges for meals bought away from home.

On the contrary, apart from the 9.81% decrease of the price index of Education, reduced charges for mobile phone services and lower rentals for housing drove the price indices of Communication; and Housing & Fuels down by 3.37% and 1.0% respectively.

The CPI-A (102.8) and CPI-B (103.05) for March 2010 increased by 1.26% and 2.0% year-on-year respectively.

The Composite CPI for March 2010 decreased by 0.25% month-to-month, of which the price indices of Recreation & Culture; and Miscellaneous Goods & Services fell by 5.54% and 1.50% respectively, attributable to lower charges for outbound package tours and hairdressing services after the Lunar New Year. However, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose by 0.64% on account of dearer charges for meals bought away from home.

The average Composite CPI for the first quarter of 2010 (102.81)) increased by 1.52% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended March 2010, the average Composite CPI rose by 0.74% over the preceding period.

The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.