Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI (125.03) for September 2009 decreased by 1.03% year-on-year, of which the price index of Education dropped substantially by 18.99% on account of the Government’s policy to increase tuition subsidies to non-tertiary education in the new academic year; moreover, falling prices of gasoline and LPG, as well as lower rentals for housing drove the price indices of Transport; and Housing & Fuels down by 4.91% and 3.01% respectively. On the contrary, price indices of Clothing & Footwear; and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 4.83% and 3.73% respectively, attributable to dearer prices of men’s and women’s clothing, fresh fish and seafood. The CPI-A (126.53) and CPI-B (124.52) for September 2009 decreased by 1.80% and 0.92% year-on-year. The average Composite CPI for the first nine months of 2009 went up by 1.62% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended September 2009, the Composite CPI rose by 3.03% over the preceding period. The Composite CPI for September 2009 decreased by 0.98% month-to-month, of which the price index of Education registered a notable drop of 9.86%; in addition, Clothing & Footwear; and Transport fell by 2.30% and 1.55% respectively due to seasonal sale of women’s clothing, falling prices of gasoline, as well as lower airfares after the Summer holidays. On the other hand, price indices of Miscellaneous Goods & Services; and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 0.53% and 0.38% respectively. Meanwhile, the CPI-A and CPI-B fell by 1.08% and 0.91% month-to-month. The Composite CPI for the third quarter of 2009 fell by 0.15% over the same quarter of 2008 but increased slightly by 0.05% quarter-to quarter. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 49% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP3,000 to MOP9,999. The CPI-B relates to about 31% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP19,999.
