Hong Kong August CPI falls 1.6 pct from yr earlier

"Hong Kong August CPI falls 1.6 pct from yr earlier | AboutHK.Com - More Information About HK"

Hong Kong August consumer price data: * HK's underlying CPI fell 0.3 pct in August year-on-year KEY DATA Percent change from a year earlier 2009 2009 2008 Aug Jul Aug Composite CPI -1.6 -1.5 4.6 CPI (A) -2.4 -2.2 2.2 CPI (B) -1.5 -1.4 5.5 CPI (C) -1.0 -0.9 6.0 Underlying CPI change** -0.3 -0.3 6.3 ** Inflation excluding temporary waivers on public rents, quarterly taxes on property, and subsidies for utilities charges. Percent change from previous month 2009 2009 2008 Aug Jul Aug Composite CPI -1.7 0.1 -1.6 CPI (A) -4.4 unch -4.1 CPI (B) -0.9 0.1 -0.8 CPI (C) unch 0.2 0.1 For the three month period ended August 2009, the monthly average rate of composite CPI was down a seasonally adjusted 0.7 percent, versus a 0.1 decrease in the May to July period. KEY POINTS *Retails discounts, government waivers pulled down CPI *Consumers are cautious as jobless rate remains high but prices seem stablised *Underlying CPI is likely to stay slightly negative in coming months LINKS To view the full details of the CPI data, see the Hong Kong government website at: http://www.info.gov.hk/hkecon/key/index.htm Notes: The composite CPI is based on the combined expenditure pattern of households covered by the three CPIs. CPI (A), Hong Kong's broadest measure of inflation, is based on the 50 percent of households spending between HK$4,000 and HK$15,499 a month as of the fiscal 2004/2005 base year. CPI (B) is based on the 30 percent of households which spend HK$15,500 to HK$27,499 per month as of the 2004/2005 fiscal year base. CPI (C), published by Hang Seng Bank Ltd., is based on the 10 percent of households spending HK$27,500 to HK$59,999 as of the 2004/2005 fiscal year base. Source: Census and Statistics Department