Table 1
Consumer Price Indices and Rates of Increase for March 1995
-
(Oct. 89 Sep. 90= 100)
CPI (A)
CPI(B)
Hang Seng CPI
Index for
Component
Mar 95
* change
over Mar 94
Index
for Mar 95
% change
over Mar 94
Index
% change
Index
Composite CPI
change
for
over
for
Mar 95
Mar 94
Mar 95
over Mar 94
Food
149.4
+7.5
151.2
+7.2
153.1
+7.5
150.8
+7.4
Meals bought
160.6
+6.9
160.0
+6.7
160.4
+7.2
160.3
+6.9
away from home
Food, excluding
138.3
+8.2
139.0
+8.0
140.6
+8.1
138.9
+8.1
meals bought
away from home
Housing
179.1
+13.2
183.5
+14.5
187.2
+13.5
183.3
+13.7
Fuel and light
134.4
+10.2
133.9
+10.3
132.5
+8.4
133.9
+9.9
Alcoholic drinks
197.0
+7.1
185.8
+6.4
180.2
+5.9
190.7
+6.7
and tobacco
Clothing and
140.4
+12.2
142.1
+13.5
149.7
+12.2
144.2
+12.7
footwear
Durable goods
115.7
+3.9
115.9
+4.4
119.3
+3.2
116.8
+3.9
Miscellaneous
140.1
+8.4
135.6
+7.2
133.5
+6.9
136.7
+7.6
goods
Transport
Miscellaneous
services
All items
153.7
+8.6
153.7
+8.5
153.7
+8.1
153.7
+8.4
171.2
+11.8
165.0
+11.1
153.0
+8.9
163.3
+10.7
156.1
+9.5
157.4
+10.0
159.7
+9.9
157.5
+9.8
Monthly consumer price indices are compiled on the basis of (a) expenditure patterns of relevant households and (b) prices collected currently in the month. The expenditure patterns underlying the 1989/90-based consumer price indices are based on those patterns derived from the 1989/90 Household Expenditure Survey. The CPI(A) is based on the expenditure pattern of about 50% of households in Hong Kong, which had an average monthly expenditure of $2,500-$9,999, in 1989/90(broadly equivalent to $3,600-$14,600 at 1994 prices). The CPI(B) is based on the expenditure pattern of the next 30% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of $10,000-$17,499 in 1989/90(broadly equivalent to $14,600-$26,000 at 1994 prices). The Hang Seng CPI is based on the expenditure pattern of the next 10% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of $17,500-$37,499 in 1989/90(broadly equivalent to $26,000-$56,000 at 1994 prices).
Whereas the CPI(A), CPI(B) and Hang Seng CPI are based on the expenditure patterns of groups of households with different magnitudes of household expenditure, the Composite CPI is compiled based on the expenditure pattern of all these households taken together. Thus, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and Hang Seng CPI show the impact of consumer price changes on different groups of households, the Composite CPI shows the impact of consumer price changes on the household sector generally.