Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that the Composite CPI for January 2008 rose by 8.30% over January 2007 to 119.61, which was attributable to the significant increase of the price indices of Food & non-alcoholic beverages (+14.42%), Housing & fuels (+14.26%) and Health (+12.53%). Among the subgroups, notable increase was observed in the prices of fresh beef (+54.70%), fresh pork (+43.46%), edible oil (+28.65%), chilled or frozen poultry (+26.76%), salt-water fish (+25.16%), vegetable (+18.87%) and meals bought away from home (+12.13%). For the subgroups of Housing & fuels; and Health, significant price increase was noted in the charges of services for the maintenance and repair of dwelling (+27.87%), rentals for housing (+16.48%), LP Gas (+16.16%) and medical consultation service (+23.29%). However, the price indices of Communication and Education registered year-on-year decrease of 8.55% and 5.84% respectively. For the 12 months ended January 2008, the average Composite CPI rose by 5.94% over the preceding period.

The Composite CPI rose by 0.95% compared with December 2007, with marked increase in the price indices of Food & non-alcoholic beverages (+2.99%), Housing & fuels (+1.09%) and Health (+8.55%).

On the other hand, the indices of Communication and Clothing & footwear dropped by 8.47% and 2.87% respectively due to a higher discount offered for IDD calls, as well as discount sale of clothes and footwear.

In addition, the CPI-A and CPI-B for January 2008 were 121.41 and 119.14, up by 8.79% and 8.17% respectively year-on-year and by 1.31% and 0.87% month-to-month.

The Composite CPI reflects the impacts of price changes on the general population. The CPI-A relates to about 49% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP 3,000 to MOP 9,999. The CPI-B relates to about 31% of households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP 10,000 to MOP 19,999.