Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the fourth quarter of 2010 rose by 11.63% year-on-year to 177.03. The price indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+21.01%), Accommodation (+18.97%), Transport & Communications (+5.17%), Restaurant Services (+4.94%) and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+4.74%) recorded notable increases, attributable to dearer prices of gold jewellery, airfare and food, as well as rising hotel room rates and charges for restaurant services. For the fourth quarter of 2010, TPI went up by 7.84% quarter-to-quarter, of which the price indices of Accommodation and Miscellaneous Goods increased by 42.37% and 10.28% respectively, on account of higher hotel room rates during the National Day holidays, the Macao Grand Prix and Christmas holiday period, as well as dearer prices of jewellery led by rising gold prices. On the contrary, the price indices of Clothing & Footwear; and Medicine & Personal Goods decreased by 1.35% and 0.15% respectively. The average TPI for 2010 increased by 11.13% year-on-year, with marked increase being observed in the indices of Miscellaneous Goods (+21.62%); Accommodation (+15.64%); Transport & Communications (+5.34%); Restaurant Services (+4.94%) and Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco (+4.80%). TPI reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled according to the consumption pattern of visitors. TPI covers 8 sections of goods and services, namely Food, Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco; Clothing & Footwear; Accommodation; Restaurant Services; Transport & Communications; Medicine & Personal Goods; Entertainment & Cultural Activities; and Miscellaneous Goods. The base period of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.
