Hong Kong's overall consumer prices rose 2 percent in March over the same month last year and the inflationary pressure would probably increase, The Census & Statistics Department announced Thursday.
The department said Hong Kong's Composite Consumer Price Index in March was slightly larger than the average rate of increase in January and February, which was 1.9 percent.
Netting out the effects of government relief measures, the year- on-year rate of increase in the underlying inflation rate in March was 0.8 percent, same as the average rate of increase in January and February.
The department said the overall inflationary pressure on consumer prices remained modest, with the underlying consumer price inflation in March being broadly the same as that in January and February combined.
It added that the economic recovery has been gaining momentum, while inflationary pressure will probably increase. However, continuous expansion in production capacity should bring some relief by alleviating pressure on business costs.
According to the statistics, during the month, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for electricity, gas and water, with 63.7 percent, followed by miscellaneous goods, food ( excluding meals bought away from home), transport, meals bought away from home, miscellaneous services and housing.
Year-on-year declines in prices were recorded for durable goods and clothing and footwear, while the price of alcohol and tobacco was unchanged.
