Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI in September 2017 increased by 1.39% year-on-year to 109.69, slightly higher than the 1.36% growth in August 2017. The increment in September was attributable to dearer charges for eating out and outpatient services, rising wages of domestic helpers, higher prices of adults’ footwear and gasoline, as well as an increase in tuition fees in the new academic year.
Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Health and Education grew by 5.30% and 4.27% respectively year-on-year, and price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages that accounted for the largest share of household expenditure went up by 1.96%. Meanwhile, price index of Communication dropped by 5.89%. The CPI-A (109.79) and CPI-B (108.82) rose by 1.42% and 1.19% respectively year-on-year.
The Composite CPI in September 2017 increased by 0.11% month-to-month. Higher tuition fees and dearer charges for tutorial classes in the new academic year pushed up the price indices of Education and Miscellaneous Goods & Services by 3.97% and 0.86% respectively month-to-month. Price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 0.30% due to higher prices of vegetables and fruits as well as dearer charges for eating out. In addition, price index of Transport grew by 0.19% on account of rising prices of gasoline and higher charges for maintenance & repair of motor cars, yet lower airfares tapered off part of the increment. On the other hand, price indices of Recreation & Culture and Clothing & Footwear dropped by 2.64% and 1.72% respectively month-to-month, attributable to receding charges for package tours after summer holidays and seasonal sale of adults’ clothing. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.12% and 0.08% respectively month-to-month.
For the 12 months ended September 2017, the average Composite CPI went up by 1.14% from the previous period, with notable increases in the price indices of Education (+7.14%) and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+5.08%). The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 1.09% and 1.63% respectively over the previous period.
The average Composite CPI for the third quarter of 2017 (109.57) increased by 1.26% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B grew by 1.28% and 1.11% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first nine months of 2017 rose by 1.05% year-on-year; while the average CPI-A and CPI-B went up by 1.02% and 1.32% respectively.
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.