Macau's composite consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.40 percent year-on-year last month, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) has announced.
A statement issued by the bureau earlier this week underlined that last month's increase slightly exceeded the one registered in July, when the index grew by 0.38 percent year-on-year.
The bureau attributed last month's increase to higher prices of gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas, higher electricity charges, the rising cost of eating out, and domestic helpers' rising wages. However, the statement pointed out, the increase was partially offset by lower housing rents, falling prices of pork, lower hotel room rates, and falling prices of package tours and telecommunication services.
The composite CPI for August rose by 0.08 percent month-on-month. For the 12 months ended last month, the average composite CPI dipped by 0.54 percent from the previous period (September 2019 to August 2020). The average composite CPI for the first eight months of this year dropped by 0.45 percent year-on-year.
According to te statement, the composite CPI reflects the impact of prices changes on Macau's households in general.
