Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (102.59) for June 2020 increased by 0.94% year-on-year, yet representing a further slowdown of 0.73 percentage points from the year-on-year growth in May (+1.67%). The increment was attributable to higher prices of fresh pork, rising charges for eating out and outpatient services, as well as dearer rentals for dwellings.
Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Health and Education rose by 5.26% and 5.21% respectively year-on-year, whereas the indices of Communication and Clothing & Footwear fell by 9.16% and 7.45%. The CPI-A (102.70) and CPI-B (102.44) saw respective increases of 1.04% and 0.75% year-on-year.
The Composite CPI for June 2020 decreased by 0.43% month-to-month. Price index of Transport dropped by 1.51% attributable to a continued fall in gasoline prices. A marked month-to-month decline in fresh pork prices drove down the price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by 0.64%; however, dearer charges for eating out offset part of the decrease. On the other hand, price index of Health rose by 0.36% on account of rising charges for outpatient services. The CPI-A and CPI-B dropped by 0.44% and 0.42% respectively month-to-month.
For the 12 months ended June 2020, the average Composite CPI rose by 2.39% from the previous period (July 2018 to June 2019), with notable growth in the price indices of Education (+5.27%), Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+4.86%) and Health (+4.32%). The average CPI-A and CPI-B went up by 2.39% and 2.75% respectively over the previous period.
The average Composite CPI for the second quarter of 2020 (102.92) increased by 1.55% year-on-year, with the average CPI-A (103.04) and CPI-B (102.76) rising by 1.66% and 1.44% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first half of 2020 rose by 2.07% year-on-year. The average CPI-A and CPI-B grew by 2.16% and 1.99% 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 MOP12,000 to MOP35,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP36,000 to MOP62,999.