On the rise: The Consumer Price Index rose 1.4% in August over a year earlier, slightly larger than July's 1.3% rise.

The Consumer Price Index rose 1.4% in August over a year earlier, slightly larger than July's 1.3% rise, the Census & Statistics Department says.

The department said the slightly larger year-on-year increase in the Composite CPI in August over July was mainly attributable to increases in private housing rentals and jewellery prices. Also contributing was the reduced fall in poultry prices.

Among the CPI components, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for food (excluding meals bought away from home) (3.4% in the Composite CPI and 3.6% in the CPI(A)), miscellaneous goods (2.9% and 1.8%), electricity, gas and water (2.5% and 2.4%), transport (2.4% and 1.9%), clothing and footwear (1.4% and 1.6%), meals bought away from home (1.1% and 1.4%) and housing (1% and 0.8%).

Year-on-year falls

Year-on-year declines in prices were recorded for durable goods (-1.9% in the Composite CPI and -1.6% in the CPI(A)) and alcohol and tobacco (-0.1% in both the Composite CPI and CPI(A)).

Miscellaneous services costs rose 0.6% in the Composite CPI but fell 0.5% in the CPI(A).

The Census & Statistics Department said consumer price inflation rose slightly in August, essentially a continuation of the climb since the beginning of this year in tandem with the full-fledged economic recovery.

Consumer price inflation is expected to rise further, along with the gradual rise in unit labour and rental costs, and with higher oil prices feeding through to the retail level, the department said. But overall inflation pressure is likely to remain relatively modest through to year's end.