Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased by 0.22% year-on-year to 139.50, on account of lower hotel room rates and falling prices of handbags and clothing; yet, rising charges for restaurant services as well as dearer prices of gold jewellery and local food products offset part of the decrease. Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Clothing & Footwear (-5.87%) and Accommodation (-2.39%) dropped significantly, while the indices of Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+3.04%), Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+3.02%), Miscellaneous Goods (+2.59%) and Restaurant Services (+2.29%) saw year-on-year increases.
In comparison with the previous quarter, TPI for the fourth quarter of 2019 increased by 7.36%. Price index of Accommodation surged by 27.71% due to higher hotel room rates during the National Day holidays, the Macao Grand Prix and Christmas holidays. Moreover, new arrival of winter clothing pushed up the price index of Clothing & Footwear by 7.84% quarter-to-quarter.
The average TPI for the whole year of 2019 went down by 0.37% year-on-year to 133.85. The decrease was mainly attributable to receding hotel room rates compared with 2018 and falling prices of handbags and ladies’ clothing; meanwhile, higher charges for restaurant services and dearer prices of local food products offset some of the decrease. Analysed by section of goods and services, price indices of Clothing & Footwear (-5.31%) and Accommodation (-2.50%) declined notably year-on-year, whereas the indices of Entertainment & Cultural Activities (+3.17%) and Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+2.83%) showed relatively large growth.
TPI reflects the price change of goods and services purchased by visitors. Sections of TPI goods and services are selected according to the consumption pattern of visitors, namely Food, Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods.