Overall consumer prices rose by 1.4 percent year-on-year in December 2025, larger than the 1.2 percent recorded in the preceding month, official data showed on Thursday.

Netting out the effects of all government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year increase in the underlying inflation last month was 1.2 percent, also larger than the 1.0 percent recorded in November, according to the Census and Statistics Department.

ALSO READ: HK economy expands amid export performance, domestic demand boost

The larger increase was mainly due to the increases in the charges for package tours as well as inbound and outbound transport fares, the department added.

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman said that consumer price inflation stayed modest in December, with the 1.2 percent increase in the underlying inflation giving an annual increase of 1.1 percent for 2025 as a whole, same as the preceding year.

ALSO READ: Hong Kong inflation up 1.2% y-o-y in October

Price pressures on various major components remained generally contained, the spokesman said.

Increases in prices were recorded in December for transport (4.3 percent), miscellaneous services (2.3 percent), alcoholic drinks and tobacco (2.0 percent), housing (1.6 percent), miscellaneous goods (1.2 percent), meals out and takeaway food (1.1 percent), and basic food (0.7 percent).

READ MORE: HK economy tipped to grow 2.7% in 2026; retail sales, exports lead

On the other hand, year-on-year decreases were recorded for durable goods (-2.6 percent), clothing and footwear (-1.7 percent), and electricity, gas and water (-1.6 percent).

Looking ahead, overall inflation should stay modest in the near term, as domestic cost and external price pressures are still mild, the spokesman added.