People cross a road in the Central district of Hong Kong on Oct 25, 2021. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's overall consumer prices rose by 2.4 percent in December from a year earlier, faster than that of November at 1.8 percent, data from the Census and Statistics Department showed Thursday.
Excluding the effects of the government's one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate last month rose to 1.4 percent year-on-year, also larger than November's 1.2-percent increase. The larger increase was mainly due to the enlarged increases in costs for meals out and takeaway food as well as electricity charges, the department said.
Looking ahead, a government spokesman said external price pressures may increase further amid elevated global inflation and the pandemic-induced logistic disruptions
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the underlying inflation rate rose 2 percent over a year earlier. For 2021 as a whole, the underlying inflation rate was 1.6 percent higher than the preceding year.
Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for electricity, gas and water (54.2 percent); clothing and footwear (8.7 percent); transport (4.1 percent); meals out and takeaway food (3.7 percent); durable goods (2.1 percent); basic food (1.9 percent); miscellaneous services (1.0 percent) and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.6 percent).
On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded for miscellaneous goods (-1.1 percent) and housing (-0.5 percent).
Looking ahead, a government spokesman said external price pressures may increase further amid elevated global inflation and the pandemic-induced logistic disruptions.
"Yet, as the latest wave of the local epidemic has weighed on some consumption-related activities and domestic cost pressures remain limited, the underlying inflation should stay broadly in check in the near term," the spokesman said.
Copyright 1995 - 2023. All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily. Without written authorization from China Daily, such content shall not be republished or used in any form.
![]() |
![]() |
CHINA DAILY HONG KONG NEWS |
OPEN |