MACAO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Macao's Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the forth quarter of 2009 rose by 9.23 percent over the same period of last year to 158.58, according to the figures released on Friday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

    The figures showed that the price indices of Miscellaneous goods, Accommodation and Food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco increased notably by 26.16 percent, 13.16 percent and 4.12 percent year-on-year respectively in the period, attributable to dearer prices of jewellery led by rising gold prices, higher hotel room rate during the National Day holidays, the Macao Grand Prix and Christmas holiday period, as well as general increase of food prices.

    On the contrary, lower airfares pushed the price index of Transport and communications down by 3.47 percent year-on-year.

    The average TPI for 2009 rose by 3.81 percent year-on-year, with marked increase of the indices of Miscellaneous goods, Food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco and Restaurant services.

    TPI reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled based on the consumption pattern of visitors derived from the Visitor Expenditure Survey. The base year of TPI is from July 1999 to June 2000.    

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