XN000022-1996-10-24 — Page 12

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Consumer price indices for September

Consumer price inflation remained moderate. As measured by the Consumer Price Index (A), the year-on-year rate of increase was 5.2% in September 1996. This was slightly higher than the 4.9% increase recorded in August.

The year-on-year rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index (B) was 5.9% in September, compared with 5.5% in August. The corresponding rate of increase in the Hang Seng CPI, at 5.6% in September, was however slower than the 5.9% increase in August.

The Composite CPI, which is compiled based on the combined expenditure pattern of all households, showed an increase of 5.6% in September 1996, against 5.4% in August.

The Census and Statistics Department today (Thursday) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for September 1996.

A Government spokesman said that the slightly faster increase in the CPI(A) and CPI(B) in September than in August was mainly due to higher prices of fresh vegetables and outerclothing.

As to the Hang Seng CPI, the rate of increase decelerated further in September. mainly due to continued easing in private housing rentals and a decrease in the prices of men's outerclothing.

Analysed by component, faster year-on-year increases than the overall average in September were recorded for clothing and footwear (10.9% in CPI(A) and 8.1% in Composite CPI); housing (8.5% in CPI(A) and 9.1% in Composite CPI); miscellaneous services (7.3% in CPI(A) and 6.5% in Composite CPI) and transport (6.1% in CPI(A) and 5.9% in Composite CPI).

Meanwhile, those components with slower year-on-year increases in prices than the overall average were food (excluding meals bought away from home) (0.4% in CPI(A) and 0.8% in Composite CPI); durable goods (1.6% in both CPI(A) and Composite CPI); meals bought away from home (3.6% in CPI(A) and 3.4% in Composite CPI); miscellaneous goods (4.2% in CPI(A) and 3.6% in Composite CPI) and fuel and light (4.8% in CPI(A) and 5.1% in Composite CPI).