Overall consumer prices in Hong Kong rose by 1.9 percent year-on-year in September, larger than the 1.7 percent increase recorded in the previous month, official data showed on Thursday.

Netting out the effects of all government one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 2.1 percent, also larger than the 1.9 percent logged in the previous month, according to the Census and Statistics Department.

The larger increase last month was mainly due to the accelerated increases in inbound and outbound transport fares and the charges for package holidays, the department said.

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It said year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for electricity, gas and water (12.9 percent), miscellaneous services (5.3 percent), transport (5.2 percent), miscellaneous goods (2.1 percent), durable goods (1.1 percent), meals out and takeaway food (1.0 percent), clothing and footwear (0.3 percent), and housing (0.2 percent).

On the other hand, year-on-year decreases were seen in prices of alcoholic drinks and tobacco (-0.4 percent), and basic food (-0.2 percent).

Taking the first nine months of this year together, the Composite Consumer Price Index rose by 1.7 percent over the same period a year earlier.

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A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman said the increase in September was largely driven by faster price increases in fuel-related items. However, increases in prices of other components were largely modest, keeping overall inflation moderate.

Looking ahead, the spokesman said consumer price inflation will remain under upward pressure, as persistently elevated international oil prices feed through to fuel-related components amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Yet, as price pressures on other fronts are expected to remain largely contained, overall inflation should stay moderate, added the spokesman.