Secondary school textbook prices have grown by an average of 7.4%, the highest in a decade, with primary school textbooks up 6.6%.

The Consumer Council today released its annual textbook price survey results covering 419 secondary school and 292 primary school textbooks.

Form 1 to 5 textbooks saw an average 7.6% rise in price while Form 6 and 7 textbooks rose 6.4%.

The rise covered all subjects except religious studies which remained unchanged. Integrated science saw the highest average rise of 8.7%, followed by mathematics at 8.6%.

Of the 292 primary textbooks surveyed the council found the average price rise for primary textbooks at 6.6%, slightly less than last year's 6.8%.

Computer literacy textbooks recorded the highest average increase of 8.9%, followed by general studies at 8.8%.

Of the 24 titles with higher average increases 16 were in the secondary sector ranging from 9.4% to 16.6%, and eight in the primary sector ranging from 9.4% to 12.5%.

Publishers said the hikes are attributable to surging costs in paper, logistics, labour, fuel and rent, along with the renminbi appreciation, the falling student population, and the New Senior Secondary Curriculum's influences.