The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 22) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for June 2010. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.8% in June 2010 over the same month a year earlier, larger than the corresponding 2.5% increase in May 2010. 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 June 2010 was 1.7%, larger than that in May (1.4%), mainly due to enlarged increases in private housing rentals, the costs for meals bought away from home and the charges for package tours.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from April to June 2010 was 0.1%, the same as that for the 3-month period from March to May 2010. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period from April to June 2010 was 0.1%, the same as that for the 3-month period from March to May 2010.

Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 3.2%, 2.7% and 2.4% respectively in June 2010, which compared to 3.0%, 2.4% and 2.2% respectively in May. 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 1.6%, 1.7% and 1.9% respectively in June 2010, which compared to 1.3%, 1.4% and 1.6% respectively in May.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period from April to June 2010, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.1%, 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period from March to May 2010 were virtually nil, 0.1% and 0.2%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period from April to June 2010 were 0.1%, 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, and the corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period from March to May 2010 were virtually nil, 0.1% and 0.2% respectively.

Amongst the various CPI components, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in June 2010 for electricity, gas and water (63.4% in the Composite CPI and 74.2% in the CPI(A), mainly because some households had used up the full amount of Government's one-off electricity charge subsidy); food (excluding meals bought away from home) (3.0% in the Composite CPI and 2.8% in the CPI(A)); clothing and footwear (2.7% in the Composite CPI and 1.8% in the CPI(A)); miscellaneous goods (2.3% in the Composite CPI and 2.2% in the CPI(A)); miscellaneous services (2.3% in the Composite CPI and 1.1% in the CPI(A)); meals bought away from home (1.7% in the Composite CPI and 1.6% in the CPI(A)); transport (1.6% in the Composite CPI and 1.1% in the CPI(A)); alcoholic drinks and tobacco (0.9% in the Composite CPI and 0.7% in the CPI(A)) and housing (0.6% in the Composite CPI and 0.8% in the CPI(A)).

On the other hand, year-on-year decline in price was recorded in June 2010 for durable goods (-1.3% in the Composite CPI and -2.3% in the CPI(A)).

For the first half of 2010 as a whole, the Composite CPI rose by 2.2% over a year earlier. The corresponding increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.8%, 2.2% and 1.8%. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the Composite CPI, CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 1.2%, 1.2%, 1.1% and 1.2% respectively in the first half of 2010 as a whole over a year earlier.

In the second quarter of 2010, the Composite CPI rose by 2.6% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 3.0%, 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.5%, 1.4%, 1.5% and 1.7% respectively.

For the 12 months ended June 2010, the Composite CPI was on average 1.2% higher than in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 1.7%, 1.2% and 0.8%. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were all 0.5%.