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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (March 20) the March 2009 issue of the Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics (HKMDS).
In this issue, two feature articles entitled "Consumer Price Index and Its Movements during 1999 to 2008" and "The Situation of the Four Key Industries in the Hong Kong Economy in 2007" are included.
"Consumer Price Index and Its Movements during 1999 to 2008"
The year-on-year rate of change of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is frequently quoted as the indicator of inflation. This feature article analyses the movements of consumer prices in the period 1999 to 2008.
From 1999 to 2004, the consumer prices generally registered annual decreases due mainly to the weakness of the global economy. Besides, the increasing economic integration between Hong Kong and the Mainland might have accelerated the price convergence between the two places in those years.
Along with the improved economic conditions, the CPIs reverted to annual increases since 2005. Since mid-2007, consumer prices began to increase significantly amidst the upsurge in food and energy prices in the international markets and appreciation of Renminbi, the increase started to moderate towards the end of 2008.
Apart from presenting the movements of the overall indices in the past decade, this feature article also analyses price changes at various commodity/service section level.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the Consumer Price Index Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2805 6401).
"The Situation of the Four Key Industries in the Hong Kong Economy in 2007"
Financial services, trading and logistics, tourism, and producer and professional services are the Four Key Industries in the Hong Kong economy. They have been the driving force of Hong Kongˇ¦s economic growth, providing impetus to growth of other sectors and creating employment.
A feature article analysing the economic contribution and employment situation in 2006 in respect of the Four Key Industries was published in the March 2008 issue of the HKMDS. This feature article is an updated version of the article published in March 2008, with data on the Four Key Industries for 2007 incorporated.
For enquiries about this feature article, please call the National Income Section (2)1, C&SD (Tel.: 2116 5188).
Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing 140 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population and vital events; labour; external trade; industrial production; land, housing, building and construction; transport, communications and tourism; public accounts, money and finance; prices; commerce; social conditions; energy; and national income and Balance of Payments. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available.
Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/general_statistical_digest/index.jsp).
Print version of the publication is available for sale at HK$142 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel.: 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD Website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of the publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
Enquiries about the contents of the publication can be directed to the General Statistics Section (1)B of C&SD (Tel.: 2582 4738).
Ends/Friday, March 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:00
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