Most everything more expensive in Hong Kong again

Living adequately in Hong Kong is becoming more and more of a challenge.

Overall consumer prices rose 4.9% in March over the same month last year, compared to the corresponding increase of 4.7% in February, said the Census & Statistics Department.

Netting out the effects of all government one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite Consumer Price Index in March 2012 was 5.6% lower than the average rate of increase in February 2012 (5.4%), mainly due to the smaller increases in private housing rentals charges for package tours and cigarette prices.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite Consumer Price Index from January to March 2012 was 0.4%, the same as that for December to February 2012.

Netting out the effects of the Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rate of increase in the Composite Consumer Price Index from January to March 2012 was 0.4%, the same as that for December to February 2012.

Year-on-year price increases were recorded in March for food (excluding meals bought away from home) (9.4%); housing (7.9%); meals bought away from home (5.9%); transport (4.3%); clothing and footwear (4%); miscellaneous goods (3.5%); miscellaneous services (2.4%) and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (1.1%).

Year-on-year price falls were recorded for electricity, gas and water (-18.6%) and durable goods (-1.3%).