Macao's inflation rate as measured by the composite CPI (consumer price index) fell to 6.16 percent in December 2008, which was the lowest level of last year, according to the figures released on Wednesday by the region's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The figures showed that the increment of the composite CPI for December 2008 stood at 125.78, with the price indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, health, and clothing and footwear went up by 14.35 percent, 13.69 percent and 9.39 percent respectively.

Among the subgroups of food and non-alcoholic beverages, notable increase was observed in the prices of rice, canned meat, fresh-water fish, edible oil and vegetables.

Meanwhile, the indices of transport and communication dropped by 8.15 percent and 6.86 percent respectively, attributable to the bus-fare subsidy provided by the government of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), falling gasoline prices, lower prices of mobile phones and reduced charges for mobile phone services, the DSEC said.

The inflation rate for the whole of 2008 reached 8.61 percent. The average composite CPI for last year stood at 124.32, with marked increase in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, health, as well as housing and fuels.

Source:Xinhua