Overall consumer prices rose 2.4% in August year-on-year, slightly less than the corresponding increase of 2.5% in July, the Census & Statistics Department says.
Netting out the effects of all the Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI, or the underlying inflation rate, last month was 2.6%, matching the previous month.
Year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for housing, meals bought away from home, food, miscellaneous services, miscellaneous goods, and alcohol and tobacco; while year-on-year decreases in prices were recorded for durable goods, electricity, gas and water, and clothing and footwear.
The department said inflationary pressures held largely stable in August. Looking ahead, upside risks to inflation would remain limited in the near term, in view of the soft international commodity prices and import prices as well as the moderate local cost pressures.
