Source: Government of Macao Special Administrative Region   Statistics and Census Service

Wednesday 21st June, 2017

Consumer Price Index for May 2017

Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the Composite CPI in May 2017 increased by 0.95% year-on-year to 109.20, up by 0.15 percentage points from the 0.80% growth in April 2017. The increment was attributable to higher charges for eating out and outpatient services, as well as rising tuition fees. 

Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of Education and Health increased by 7.46% and 5.14% respectively year-on-year, and price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages that accounted for the largest share of household expenditure went up by 1.62%. Meanwhile, price indices of Communication and Housing & Fuels dropped by 5.79% and 1.28% respectively. The CPI-A (109.30) and CPI-B (108.35) rose by 0.94% and 1.01% respectively year-on-year. 

The Composite CPI in May 2017 increased by 0.28% month-to-month. New arrival of women’s summer clothing and higher charges for outpatient services pushed up the price indices of Clothing & Footwear and Health by 1.63% and 1.61% respectively month-to-month. Moreover, price index of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages went up by 0.64% owing to dearer charges for eating out, and rising prices of fresh fish and fruits. On the other hand, receding charges for package tours, lower airfares, and reduced prices of motor cars and alcoholic beverages drove down the price indices of Recreation & Culture, Transport and Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco by 0.82%, 0.34% and 0.32% respectively. The CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 0.30% and 0.16% respectively month-to-month. 

For the 12 months ended May 2017, the average Composite CPI increased by 1.37% from the previous period, with marked increase in the price indices of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco (+9.99%), Education (+7.75%) and Transport (+6.12%). The average CPI-A and CPI-B rose by 1.27% and 2.22% respectively over the previous period. 

The average Composite CPI for the first five months of 2017 increased by 0.92% year-on-year. The average CPI-A and CPI-B went up by 0.85% and 1.48% respectively.

The Composite CPI reflects the impact of price changes on the general households in Macao. The CPI-A relates to about 50% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP10,000 to MOP29,999. The CPI-B relates to about 30% of the households, which have an average monthly expenditure of MOP30,000 to MOP54,999.