The Composite Consumer Price Index fell 2.7% last month over a year earlier, narrowing further on September's 3.2% fall.

The Census & Statistics Department said the lesser year-on-year decline was largely attributable to the effect of rates concessions granted in the third quarter.

A price rise in women's clothes and a moderated decline in the cost of some durable goods contributed to the easing up.

But against these, there was a larger fall in charges for telephone and other communications services. However, the price of fresh vegetables showed a moderate rise.

Analysed by sub-index and on a year-on-year comparison, the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) went down 2%, 2.7% and 3.3% respectively in October, also narrowing from the corresponding falls of 2.8%, 3.2% and 3.8% in September.

Meanwhile, the Government's waiver of water and sewage charges for August to November continued its effect in October. It was estimated to have dampened the Composite CPI, CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) by 0.3, 0.4, 0.2 and 0.1 of a percentage point respectively, over the same month last year.

Among the various CPI components, housing continued to register the largest year-on-year decline in prices in October (-5.7%), followed by durable goods (-5.5%), miscellaneous services (-3.5%), food (excluding meals bought away from home) (-1.8%), meals bought away from home (-1.4%), clothing and footwear (-0.7%), and alcohol and tobacco (-0.5%).

However, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in October for miscellaneous goods (3.1%), and electricity, gas and water (1.1%). Transport costs rose by 0.1%.