¡¡¡¡MACAO, May 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Macao is still plagued by deflation with the latest consumer price index (CPI) for April falling 0.19 percent compared with March.

¡¡¡¡The index, an indicator of the ups and downs of consumer demand,stood at 95.04 in April, dropping on the back of price declines of grain, beverage, household appliances and housing, according to the Statistics and Census Services.

¡¡¡¡Fresh fruits, fish and other sea products as well as electricity and oil were all cheaper while Macao residents spent less on meals at restaurants and maintenance and care for household appliances, the agency elaborated.

¡¡¡¡The contraction was cushioned by spending on transport and telecommunications and clothing, which rose by some 0.4 percent month on month.

¡¡¡¡April's CPI decreased as much as 3.08 percent from a year ago. The 12-month CPI average ending April was down 2.4 percent compared with the previous 12 months.

¡¡¡¡To cope with the nagging deflation, the special administrative region (SAR) government has been moving to liberalize the gambling market and invigorate tourism as part of a wider effort to power economic growth, which came to 2.1 percent in 2001. Enditem

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