HONG KONG – Overall consumer prices in Hong Kong rose 2.0 percent year-on-year in April, which is larger than the 1.4 percent increase recorded in the previous month, according to official data released on Thursday.

The larger increase was mainly attributable to the lower ceiling of rates concession in April 2025 when compared with the same month last year, according to the Census and Statistics Department.

Netting out the effects of the government’s one-off relief measures, underlying inflation was 1.3 percent, also larger than that recorded in March, the department said.

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It added that this larger increase was mainly due to the increases in the charges for package tours as well as inbound and outbound transport fares.

Compared with April 2024, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for electricity, gas and water (up 13.2 percent), transport (3.8 percent), housing (2.8 percent), miscellaneous services (2.1 percent), meals out and takeaway food (1.3 percent), miscellaneous goods (1.0 percent), and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.4 percent). 

On the other hand, decreases were recorded for clothing and footwear (-4.1 percent), durable goods (-1.6 percent), and basic food (-1.3 percent).

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman said that inflation pressure remained largely moderate in recent months.

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He said the underlying consumer price inflation rate went up somewhat in April, mainly reflecting increases in travel-related charges amid the late Easter holidays, which started in April this year but were in late March last year.

Looking ahead, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term and pressures from domestic costs and external prices should stay broadly in check, the spokesman added.