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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (September 21) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for August 2015. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.4% in August 2015 over the same month a year earlier, slightly smaller than the corresponding increase (2.5%) in July 2015. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in August 2015 remained virtually unchanged at 2.6% as compared to July 2015. The slightly smaller increase in the Composite CPI in August was mainly due to the special fuel rebate in electricity starting from mid-August.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from June to August 2015 was -0.6%, and the corresponding rate of change for the 3-month period from May to July 2015 was 0.3%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from June to August 2015 was 0.2%, and that for the 3-month period from May to July 2015 was 0.3%.
Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.0%, 2.4% and 1.8% respectively in August 2015, which compared to 3.4%, 2.4% and 1.8% respectively in July. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.2%, 2.5% and 2.0% respectively in August 2015, which compared to 3.4%, 2.5% and 1.9% respectively in July.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period from June to August 2015, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were -2.0%, -0.1% and 0.1% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period from May to July 2015 were 0.3%, 0.3% and 0.2%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period from June to August 2015 were 0.2%, 0.2% and 0.1% respectively, and the corresponding rates of increase for the 3-month period from May to July 2015 were 0.3%, 0.3% and 0.2% respectively.
Amongst the various CPI components, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in August 2015 for housing (4.4% in the Composite CPI and 5.3% in the CPI(A)), meals bought away from home (4.3% in the Composite CPI and 4.2% in the CPI(A)), food (excluding meals bought away from home) (4.1% in both the Composite CPI and CPI(A)), miscellaneous services (1.2% in the Composite CPI and 1.4% in the CPI(A)), miscellaneous goods (0.5% in the Composite CPI and 1.3% in the CPI(A)) as well as alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.4% in the Composite CPI and 0.3% in the CPI(A)).
On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in prices were recorded in August 2015 for durable goods (-5.7% in the Composite CPI and -5.4% in the CPI(A)); electricity, gas and water (-4.6% in the Composite CPI and -4.3% in the CPI(A), mainly due to the special fuel rebate in electricity starting from mid-August) as well as clothing and footwear (-1.8% in the Composite CPI and -0.8% in the CPI(A)).
As for transport, the Composite CPI fell by 0.5% over a year earlier but the CPI(A) rose by 0.6%.
Taking the first eight months of 2015 together, the Composite CPI rose by 3.4% over a year earlier. The corresponding increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 4.8%, 3.1% and 2.1%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the Composite CPI, CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 2.6%, 3.3%, 2.4% and 1.9% respectively in the first eight months of 2015 over a year earlier.
For the 3 months ended August 2015, the Composite CPI rose by 2.7% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 3.6%, 2.5% and 1.8% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.6%, 3.3%, 2.5% and 1.9% respectively.
For the 12 months ended August 2015, the Composite CPI was on average 4.1% higher than in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 6.0%, 3.6% and 2.5%. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.8%, 3.6%, 2.7% and 2.1% respectively.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that inflationary pressures held largely stable in August. Looking ahead, the upside risks to inflation should remain limited in the near term, in view of the soft international commodity prices and import prices as well as the moderate local cost pressures. The Government will continue to monitor the inflation developments closely, particularly its impact on the lower-income people.
Further information
The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for August 2015 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after removing the effects of one-off measures are shown in Table 2. For discerning the latest trend in consumer prices, it is also useful to look at the changes in the seasonally adjusted CPIs. The corresponding time series on the average monthly rates of change during the latest 3 months for the seasonally adjusted CPIs are shown in Table 3. The rates of change in the original and the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI and the underlying inflation rate are presented graphically in Chart 1.
More detailed CPI data (including year-on-year comparison, month-to-month comparison, seasonally adjusted data series and the CPIs by the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP)) are available in the monthly reports. Users can download the August 2015 issue of the Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=B1060001), the time series of CPIs at detailed level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600001) as well as the time series of CPIs at COICOP division level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp270.jsp?productCode=D5600002) free of charge at the website of the C&SD.
For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD at telephone no. 3903 7374 or email address cpi@censtatd.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:42
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