HONG KONG, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Consumer Price Index (CPI) in this November rose 5.1 percent from a year ago, compared to the 5.2 percent in October, mainly due to the smaller increase in the prices of fresh fruit, the city's statistics department said here on Tuesday.
The enlarged decrease in the charges for package tours was another reason for slow inflation, the department said.
Prices of electricity, gas and water rose the most, by 25.6 percent, due to the used-up electricity charge subsidy. Housing costs advanced 8.5 percent and prices of alcoholic drinks and tobacco increased 7.5 percent. Price of food increased 3.8 percent and miscellaneous services rose 1.9 percent.
On the other hand, prices for durable goods fell 4.4 percent from a year earlier, followed by the clothing and footwear 1.1 percent.
Netting out the effects of all government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year CPI in November was 3.3 percent, also smaller than the 3.4 percent in October.
A government spokesman said the upside risks to inflation should remain contained in the near term, as softer international commodity prices will help keep global inflation benign and local cost pressures should also stay moderate.
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