XN000022-1996-11-21 — Page 28

+

26

Consumer price indices for October released

Consumer price inflation remained moderate. As measured by the Consumer Price Index (A), the year-on-year rate of increase was 5.4% in October 1996. This was only slightly higher than the 5.2% increase recorded in September.

The year-on-year rate of increase in the Consumer Price Index (B) at 5.8% in October, was slightly slower than the 5.9% increase in September. The corresponding rate of increase in the Hang Seng CPI was 6.0% in October, which was higher than the 5.6% increase in September.

The Composite CPI, which is compiled based on the combined expenditure pattern of all households, showed a year-on-year increase of 5.7% in October 1996, against 5.6% in September.

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

A Government spokesman said that the slightly faster year-on-year increase in the CPI(A) in October than in September was partly due to faster increases in the prices of fuel and light (caused by the rise in electricity charges), alcoholic drinks and tobacco, some basic food items as well as some consumer goods,

The slower increase in the CPI(B) in October than in September was mainly due to continued easing in private housing rentals.

As for the Hang Seng CPI, the faster increase in October than in September was mainly due to a faster increase in the prices of outerclothing.

Analysed by component, faster year-on-year increases than the overall average in October were recorded for clothing and footwear (10.6% in CPI(A) and 9.4% in Composite CPI); housing (8.2% in CPI(A) and 8.6% in Composite CPI); miscellaneous services (7.1% in CPI(A) and 6.4% in Composite CPI); fuel and light (6.3% in CPI(A) and 6.4% in Composite CPI); alcoholic drinks and tobacco (6.3% in CPI(A) and 6.2% in Composite CPI) and transport (6.1% in CPI(A) and 5.8% 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) (1.4% in CPI(A) and 1.7% in Composite CPI); durable goods (1.5% in CPI(A) and 1.6% in Composite CPI); meals bought away from home (3.4% in CPI(A) and 3.2% in Composite CPI) and miscellaneous goods (4.6% in CPI(A) and 3.9% in Composite CPI).