Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the impact of the Lunar New Year pushed up the Composite CPI (121.46) for February 2013 to increase by 6.16% year-on-year, attributable to dear prices of fresh food and produce, higher charges for eating out and outbound package tours.

In comparison with February 2012, notable increase was observed in the price index of Recreation & Culture (+11.72%); Housing & Fuels (+8.88%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+7.42%) on account of rising charges for eating out and outbound package tours, as well as general increase in prices of fresh food and produce during the holidays. On the contrary, price index of Education and Communication decreased by 3.14% and 1.34% respectively. The CPI-A (121.26) and CPI-B (121.96) increased by 6.69% and 6.08% respectively year-on-year.

The average Composite CPI for the first two months of 2013 increased by 5.60% year-on-year; prices of fresh food and produce, and eating out contributed to an increase of 2.4 percentage points in the Composite CPI. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.19% and 5.50% respectively.

The Composite CPI for February 2013 soared by 1.04% month-to-month, of which the price index of Recreation & Culture and Transport increased by 7.55% and 2.13% respectively. However, price index of Clothing & Footwear decreased by 3.97% upon seasonal sale of Winter clothing; receded prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas tapered off the increase in Housing & Fuels. The CPI-A and the CPI-B increased by 1.11% and 1.04% respectively month-to-month.

For the 12 months ended February 2013, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.99% from the preceding period, of which the price index of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+26.22%); and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+8.07%) rose significantly, while that of Communication decreased by 3.33%. The average CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 6.40% and 6.12% 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.