Consumer price index (CPI) for June 2015

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI for June 2015 increased by 4.91% year-on-year to 105.90, down slightly from the 4.93% growth in May 2015. The increase was attributable to dearer rentals for dwellings, rising charges for eating out and higher rentals for parking spaces. In comparison with June 2014, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.17%); Health (+6.22%); Household Goods & Furnishings (+5.24%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.15%) on account of higher rentals for dwellings, rising wages of domestic helpers, as well as dearer charges for out-patient services and eating out. On the other hand, price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (-2.94%) showed marked decrease. The CPI-A (106.07) and CPI-B (104.43) increased by 5.36% and 4.06% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for June 2015 increased by 0.48% month-to-month. Higher prices of summer clothing & footwear and automobiles, as well as rising rentals for parking spaces, pushed up the price index of Clothing & Footwear and Transport by 1.69% and 1.37% respectively. Moreover, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 0.38% upon dearer prices of vegetables and fresh pork. On the contrary, price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco and Communication decreased by 0.24% and 0.22% respectively. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.46% and 0.67% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended June 2015, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.43% from the previous period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+11.09%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+5.52%) and Health (+5.12%) showed remarkable increase. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.90% and 4.93% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the second quarter of 2015 increased by 4.79% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.25% and 3.84% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first half year of 2015 increased by 4.92% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.35% and 4.14% respectively. The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households. 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.