Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (125.88) for November 2013 increased by 5.78% year-on-year, attributable to higher rentals for dwellings, rising charges for eating out and package tours.

In comparison with November 2012, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+11.12%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.48%) on account of rising rentals, higher charges for eating out, dearer prices of fresh meat and vegetable; on the contrary, price index of Communication decreased by 1.77%. The CPI-A (126.21) and CPI-B (126.28) increased by 6.38% and 5.63% respectively year-on-year.

The Composite CPI for November 2013 increased by 0.52% month-to-month, of which dearer prices of women’s clothings & footwear and Liquefied Petroleum Gas pushed up the price index of Clothing & Footwear; and Housing & Fuels by 3.23% and 1.18% respectively, while lowered prices of vegetable helped to offset part of the increase. On the contrary, price index of Miscellaneous Goods & Services decreased by 0.21%. The CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 0.47% and 0.55% respectively month-to-month.

For the 12 months ended November 2013, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.51% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.79%); and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+6.82%) registered remarkable increase, while price index of Communication and Education decreased by 2.26% and 1.83% respectively. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.10% and 5.40% respectively.

The average Composite CPI for the first eleven months of 2013 increased by 5.48% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.08% and 5.36% respectively.

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.