The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 23) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for January 2016. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.7% in January 2016 over the same month a year earlier, larger than the corresponding increase (2.5%) in December 2015. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in January 2016 was 2.6%, also larger than that in December 2015 (2.4%), mainly due to the smaller decreases in the charges for package tours and the enlarged increases in the prices of fresh vegetables.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from November 2015 to January 2016 was 0.1%, and that for the 3-month period from October to December 2015 was 0.7%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from November 2015 to January 2016 was 0.1%, and that for the 3-month period from October to December 2015 was 0.3%.

Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.9%, 2.6% and 2.4% respectively in January 2016, which compared to 2.7%, 2.5% and 2.1% respectively in December 2015. 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 2.8%, 2.6% and 2.4% respectively in January 2016, which compared to 2.6%, 2.5% and 2.1% respectively in December 2015.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period from November 2015 to January 2016, the average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.2%, 0.1% and 0.1% respectively. The corresponding rates of increase for the 3-month period from October to December 2015 were 1.0%, 0.6% and 0.4%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding average monthly rates of increase in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period from November 2015 to January 2016 were 0.2%, 0.1% and 0.1% respectively, and the corresponding rates of increase for the 3-month period from October to December 2015 were 0.3%, 0.3% and 0.2% respectively.

Amongst the various CPI components, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in January 2016 for food (excluding meals bought away from home) (4.8% in the Composite CPI and 5.0% in the CPI(A)), meals bought away from home (4.1% in the Composite CPI and 4.2% in the CPI(A)), housing (3.8% in the Composite CPI and 3.5% in the CPI(A)), miscellaneous services (1.8% in the Composite CPI and 1.5% in the CPI(A)), transport (1.2% in the Composite CPI and 1.9% in the CPI(A)), alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.7% in the Composite CPI and 0.6% in the CPI(A)) as well as miscellaneous goods (0.4% in the Composite CPI and 1.0% in the CPI(A)).

On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in prices were recorded in January 2016 for durable goods (-5.3% in the Composite CPI and -4.8% in the CPI(A)) as well as clothing and footwear (-2.5% in the Composite CPI and -4.0% in the CPI(A)).

As for electricity, gas and water, the Composite CPI fell by 0.2% over a year earlier but the CPI(A) rose by 0.5%.

For the 3 months ended January 2016, the Composite CPI rose by 2.5% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 2.8%, 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.5%, 2.7%, 2.5% and 2.2% respectively.

For the 12 months ended January 2016, the Composite CPI was on average 2.9% higher than in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.7%, 2.8% and 2.1%. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 2.5%, 3.0%, 2.5% and 2.0% respectively.