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The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (April 23) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for March 2009. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 1.2% in March 2009 over the same month a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from January to March 2009 was virtually nil.
The year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs in March 2009 were affected by various Government's one-off relief measures, in particular the implementation of electricity charge subsidy.
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 March 2009 was 2.6%, smaller than the average rate of increase in January and February (3.3%). The smaller increase was due mainly to the decreases in private housing rentals and food prices. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the underlying Composite CPI for the 3-month period from January to March 2009 was virtually nil, and the corresponding rate of change for the 3-month period from December 2008 to February 2009 was -0.2%.
Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the headline CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.5%, 1.3% and 1.7% respectively in March 2009, which compared to the average rates of increase of 1.2%, 2.1% and 2.5% respectively in January and February. 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 2.6%, 2.6% and 2.5% respectively in March 2009, which compared to the average rates of increase of 3.0%, 3.4% and 3.4% respectively in January and February. The larger difference between the change in headline and underlying CPI(A) reflected that Government's one-off relief measures had larger impacts on the lower expenditure households.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period from January to March 2009, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI, CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were virtually nil, 0.1%, virtually nil and -0.1% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period from December 2008 to February 2009 were -0.2%, -0.1%, -0.2% and -0.3%. These rates of change were not affected by Government's one-off relief measures as the same measures were implemented during the period concerned.
Amongst the various CPI components, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in March 2009 for alcoholic drinks and tobacco (22.2% in the Composite CPI and 25.6% in the CPI(A)); housing (5.7% in the Composite CPI and 4.4% in the CPI(A)); food (excluding meals bought away from home) (5.4% in the Composite CPI and 5.8% in the CPI(A)); clothing and footwear (4.3% in the Composite CPI and 4.4% in the CPI(A)); meals bought away from home (2.7% in the Composite CPI and 2.6% in the CPI(A)); miscellaneous goods (2.3% in the Composite CPI and 2.6% in the CPI(A)) and transport (0.1% in the Composite CPI and 1.9% in the CPI(A)).
On the other hand, large year-on-year decline in prices was recorded in March 2009 for electricity, gas and water (-42.9% in the Composite CPI and -47.9% in the CPI(A)), largely as a result of Government's electricity charge subsidy. Declines were also recorded for miscellaneous services (-2.5% in the Composite CPI and -4.1% in the CPI(A)) and durable goods (-2.5% in the Composite CPI and -2.8% in the CPI(A)).
In the first quarter of 2009, the Composite CPI rose by 1.7% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 1.0%, 1.9% and 2.2% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 3.1%, 2.9%, 3.1% and 3.1% respectively.
For the 12 months ended March 2009, the Composite CPI was on average 3.6% higher than in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.5%, 3.9% and 4.3%. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 5.1%, 5.1%, 5.2% and 5.0% respectively.
Commentary
A Government spokesman says that consumer price inflation came down further in March, reflecting the recent easing of private housing rentals and food prices as well as the weaker demand conditions.
The spokesman points out further that inflationary pressures are likely to recede further looking ahead, in the face of the global economic downturn.
Further information
The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for March 2009 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 are presented graphically in Chart 1.
More detailed CPI data (including year-on-year comparison, month-to-month comparison and seasonally adjusted data series) are available in the monthly reports. Users can download the March 2009 issue of the Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/
statistical_report/prices_household_expenditure/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is available for sale at HK$52 per issue. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the 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's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/
mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print version of this publication is also available for sale online at the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD at telephone no. 2805 6403 or email address cpi@censtatd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, April 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:30
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