Consumer Price Indices for September 2022
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On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending September 2022 was 0.1%, and that for the 3-month period ending August 2022 was 0.2%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of increase were both 0.1%.
Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 8.9%, 2.4% and 1.9% respectively in September 2022, as compared to 1.9%, 1.8% and 1.9% respectively in August 2022. 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 1.8%, 1.7% and 1.9% respectively in September 2022, as compared to 1.8%, 1.8% and 1.9% respectively in August 2022.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period ending September 2022, the average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were all 0.1%. The corresponding rates of increase for the 3-month period ending August 2022 were 0.3%, 0.2% and 0.1% respectively. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period ending September 2022 were all 0.1%, and the corresponding rates of increase for the 3-month period ending August 2022 were 0.2%, 0.1% and 0.1% respectively.
Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in September 2022 for electricity, gas and water (14.5%); housing (6.4%); basic food (4.3%); meals out and takeaway food (3.5%); clothing and footwear (3.0%); transport (2.1%); alcoholic drinks and tobacco (1.9%); miscellaneous services (1.4%) and miscellaneous goods (0.4%).
On the other hand, year-on-year decrease in the component of the Composite CPI was recorded in September 2022 for durable goods (-0.5%).
Taking the first 9 months of 2022 together, the Composite CPI rose by 1.9% over a year earlier. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.3%, 1.7% and 1.8% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.7%, 1.7%, 1.6% and 1.8% respectively.
In the third quarter of 2022, the Composite CPI rose by 2.7% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 4.1%, 2.1% and 1.9% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.8%, 1.8%, 1.8% and 1.9% respectively.
For the 12 months ending September 2022, the Composite CPI was on average 1.9% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.3%, 1.7% and 1.7% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.6%, 1.6%, 1.5% and 1.7% respectively.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that the underlying consumer price inflation rate stayed moderate at 1.8% in September. While the headline inflation rate was notably higher, it was mainly due to the low base of comparison resulted from the waiver of public housing rentals by the Hong Kong Housing Authority in the same month last year. Looking at the individual CPI components, prices of food as well as clothing and footwear continued to record relatively visible year-on-year increases, while those of energy-related items soared further. But price pressures on other major components were broadly in check.
While import prices will continue to rise notably amid high inflation in many major economies, the largely mild domestic cost pressures should help keep overall inflation moderate in the near term. The Government will continue to monitor the situation.
Further information
The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for September 2022 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief 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 September 2022 issue of the "Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1060001&scode=270), the time series of CPIs at detailed level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=D5600001&scode=270), the time series of CPIs at COICOP division level (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=D5600002&scode=270) and the time series of CPIs after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=D5600003&scode=270) at the website of the C&SD.
For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7374 or email: cpi@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, October 21, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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