Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the average Composite CPI for the first eleven months of 2010 increased by 2.71% year-on-year. For the 12 months ended November 2010, the average Composite CPI rose by 2.54% from the preceding period. The Composite CPI (105.55) for November 2010 increased by 3.93% year-on-year, attributable to the price increases in Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages; Miscellaneous Goods & Services; and Transport. Analyzed by section of goods and services, Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+6.71%); Clothing & Footwear (+6.02%); Health (+5.79%); Transport (+5.72%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.00%); Recreation & Calture (+3.71%) recorded notable increase on account of dearer prices of gold jewellery, men’s and children’s clothing, women’s footwear, gasoline, fresh fish as well as higher charges for out-patient medical services, meals bought away from home and outbound package tours. Meanwhile, reduced charges for mobile phone services caused the price index of Communication to fall by 3.60% year-on-year. The CPI-A (104.91) and CPI-B (105.72) for November 2010 increased by 3.65% and 4.06% year-on-year respectively. The Composite CPI for November 2010 increased by 0.45% month-to-month, with the price indices of Clothing & Footwear; Transport; and Housing & Fuels rising by 3.37%, 0.99% and 0.94% respectively on account of rising prices of Autumn and Winter clothing, gasoline and LPG. However, price indices of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages; and Recreation & Culture fell by 0.37% and 0.28% respectively due to lower prices of vegetables and fresh seafood, as well as reduced charges for outbound package tours. The 2008/2009-based Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP6,000 to MOP18,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP19,000 to MOP34,999.
