Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI in January 2018 rose by 1.74% year-on-year to 111.14, a slowdown from the 2.04% increase in December 2017. The increment in January was attributable to higher charges for eating out, dearer prices of women’s winter clothing and footwear, as well as rising parking meter rates and rentals for dwellings. 

Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Clothing & Footwear, Health and Education went up by 6.09%, 4.58% and 4.21% respectively year-on-year, while those of Communication and Recreation & Culture fell by 11.32% and 5.61% respectively. The CPI-A (111.21) and CPI-B (110.59) rose by 1.68% and 2.18% respectively year-on-year. 

The Composite CPI in January 2018 edged up by 0.06% month-to-month. Higher prices of gold jewellery and gasoline, as well as rising parking meter rates drove up the price indices of Miscellaneous Goods & Services and Transport by 0.78% and 0.54% respectively. Price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 0.31% on account of dearer charges for eating out and rising prices of fresh pork, yet receding prices of vegetables and fruits tapered off part of the increase. On the other hand, lower charges for telecommunication services and package tours drove down the price indices of Communication and Recreation & Culture markedly by 6.39% and 1.10% respectively. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.03% and 0.27% respectively month-to-month. 

For the 12 months ended January 2018, the average Composite CPI grew by 1.23% from the previous period, with notable increases in the price indices of Education (+6.06%) and Health (+4.53%); meanwhile, price index of Communication (-5.47%) decreased. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 1.21% and 1.38% respectively over the previous period. 

The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households in Macao. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.