Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the average Composite CPI for the whole year of 2013 was 123.48 and the annual inflation rate stood at 5.50%. Inflation was mainly fuelled by higher rentals for dwellings and rising charges for eating out, which drove up the inflation rate by 3.8 percentage points; meanwhile, electricity charge subsidy tapered off part of the increase.

In 2013, significant increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+9.95%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.63%); and Health (+6.48%), while price index of Communication and Education decreased by 2.30% and 1.40% respectively. Moreover, the average CPI-A (123.59) and CPI-B (123.94) increased by 6.09% and 5.38% year-on-year.

The Composite CPI (126.88) for December 2013 increased by 5.72% year-on-year. Remarkable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+10.78%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+6.44%) on account of dearer prices of fresh food and produce, rising rentals for dwellings and higher charges for eating out. On the contrary, price index of Communication decreased by 1.63%. The CPI-A (127.15) and CPI-B (127.33) for December 2013 increased by 6.27% and 5.66% respectively year-on-year.

The Composite CPI for December 2013 increased by 0.79% month-to-month. Higher prices of women’s clothings & footwear and rising charges for package tours during Christmas holiday pushed up the price index of Clothing & Footwear; and Recreation & Culture by 3.19% and 2.76% respectively. Meanwhile, price index of Miscellaneous Goods & Services decreased by 0.17%. The CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 0.74% and 0.83% respectively month-to-month.

The average Composite CPI (125.99) for the fourth quarter of 2013 increased by 5.89% year-on-year, with noticeable increase being observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+11.58%). The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.53% and 5.75% respectively.

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.