Section		Composite CPI		CPI(A)		CPI(B)		Hang Seng CPI
		Index for Feb 99	% change over Feb 98	Index for Feb 99	% change over Feb 98	Index for Feb 99	% change over Feb 98	Index for Feb 99	% change over Feb 98
Food		111.0	-1.2	111.0	-1.5	111.2	-1.4	110.8	+0.4
	Meals bought away from home	111.2	-1.4	112.1	-1.6	111.0	-2.0	110.2	+0.4
	Food, excl. meals bought away from home	110.8	-0.8	109.7	-1.5	111.6	-0.4	112.2	+0.2
Housing		128.3	-1.3	125.3	-1.5	125.1	-2.9	135.1	+0.8
Fuel and light		113.5	+0.2	112.9	+0.0*	113.3	+0.2	115.3	+0.8
Alcoholic drinks and tobacco		124.1	+4.2	123.9	+3.6	125.1	+4.7	123.0	+4.7
Clothing and footwear		93.3	-18.5	99.9	-16.0	99.0	-17.4	80.3	-22.6
Durable goods		101.5	-2.5	102.5	-2.2	101.7	-2.4	100.4	-2.8
Miscellaneous goods		112.4	+1.3	116.0	+2.1	112.1	+1.2	108.6	+0.3
Transport		117.4	+1.6	118.0	+1.2	117.1	+1.1	117.2	+2.6
Miscellaneous services		115.1	-0.5	118.8	+0.8	116.8	+0.9	109.9	-0.3
All items		115.6	-1.7	115.6	-1.5	115.1	-2.3	116.4	-1.1

Note: * less than 0.05%

Monthly consumer price indices are compiled on the basis of (a) expenditure patterns of relevant households and (b) prices collected currently in the month. The expenditure patterns underlying the 1994/95-based consumer price indices are based on those patterns derived from the 1994/95 Household Expenditure Survey. The CPI(A) is based on the expenditure pattern of about 50% of households in Hong Kong, which had an average monthly expenditure of $4000 - $15999 in 1994/95 (broadly equivalent to $4700 - $18700 at 1998 prices). The CPI(B) is based on the expenditure pattern of the next 30% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of $16000 - $29999 in 1994/95 (broadly equivalent to $18700 - $35500 at 1998 prices). The Hang Seng CPI is based on the expenditure pattern of the further next 10% of households, which had an average monthly expenditure of $30000 - $59999 in 1994/95 (broadly equivalent to $35500 - $71400 at 1998 prices).

Whereas the CPI(A), CPI(B) and Hang Seng CPI are based on the expenditure patterns of groups of households with different magnitudes of household expenditure, the Composite CPI is compiled based on the expenditure pattern of all these households taken together. Thus, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and Hang Seng CPI show the impact of consumer price changes on different groups of households, the Composite CPI shows the impact of consumer price changes on the household sector as a whole.