Overall consumer prices rose 1.4% year on year in December, a bigger increase than the corresponding 1.2% recorded in the previous month, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 1.2% in December, also larger than that seen in November.

Compared with December 2024 before, price increases were recorded in the following categories: transport; miscellaneous services; alcoholic drinks and tobacco; housing; miscellaneous goods; meals out and takeaway food; and basic food.

Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged for durable goods; clothing and footwear; and electricity, gas and water.

The Government said consumer price inflation stayed modest in December, with the underlying Composite CPI for 2025 increasing by 1.1% annually.

It added that it expects overall inflation to stay modest in the near term, as domestic costs and external price pressures remain mild.