Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI (122.17) for April 2013 increased by 5.24% year-on-year, attributable to rising charges for eating out and dearer prices of vegetable. In comparison with April 2012, notable increase was observed in the price index of Housing & Fuels (+8.86%); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+7.38%); and Health (+7.27%) on account of rising rentals for dwellings, soaring vegetable prices amidst continuous rainfall, higher charges for eating out and out-patient services; however, price index of Education and Communication decreased by 3.12% and 2.89% respectively. The CPI-A (122.38) and CPI-B (122.60) increased by 5.99% and 5.04% respectively year-on-year. The Composite CPI for April 2013 increased by 0.88% month-to-month. Dearer prices of new Summer clothing and vegetable drove up the price index of Clothing & Footwear; and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages by 2.17% and 1.41% respectively. On the contrary, price index of Miscellaneous Goods & Services decreased by 0.55% due to lower prices of gold jewellery. Moreover, decreasing prices of fresh pork and gasoline tapered off part of the increase in the Composite CPI. The CPI-A and the CPI-B increased by 1.07% and 0.81% respectively month-to-month. For the 12 months ended April 2013, the average Composite CPI increased by 5.75% from the preceding period. Price index of Housing & Fuels (+8.28%) and Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (+7.62%) registered notable increase, while that of Communication and Education decreased by 2.69% and 1.44%. The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 6.25% and 5.82% respectively. The average Composite CPI for the first four months of 2013 increased by 5.35% year-on-year; the average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 5.95% and 5.23% 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.
