Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (115.14) for April 2019 increased by 2.77% year-on-year, down by 0.07 percentage points from the growth in March (+2.84%). The increment in April was attributable to dearer charges for eating out, higher rentals for dwellings as well as rising prices of motor cars, gasoline, vegetables and fruits.

Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Education and Transport grew notably by 5.89% and 4.74% respectively year-on-year, whereas the indices of Communication and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco dropped by 0.76% and 0.40%. The CPI-A (115.20) and CPI-B (114.63) saw respective increases of 2.74% and 3.02% year-on-year.

The Composite CPI for April 2019 rose by 0.25% month-to-month. Higher charges for package tours and rising gasoline prices pushed up the price indices of Recreation & Culture and Transport by 2.13% and 0.66% respectively. Price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 0.12% on account of dearer charges for eating out and higher fruit prices; yet, lower prices of vegetables tapered off part of the increase. Despite reduced electricity prices, price index of Housing & Fuels rose by 0.10% due to increases in rentals for dwellings and Liquefied Petroleum Gas prices. The CPI-A and CPI-B grew by 0.26% and 0.22% respectively month-to-month.

For the 12 months ended April 2019, the average Composite CPI rose by 3.09% from the previous period, with notable growth in the price indices of Clothing & Footwear (+5.77%), Transport (+5.66%) and Education (+5.33%). The average CPI-A and CPI-B increased by 3.10% and 3.01% respectively over the previous period.

The average Composite CPI for the first four months of 2019 increased by 2.86%  year-on-year. The average CPI-A and CPI-B went up by 2.83% and 3.13% respectively.

The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households in Macao. 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.