Mild inflation: The composite consumer price index rose 1.8% in December over a year earlier.

Overall consumer prices rose 1.8% in December over a year earlier, following a 1.7% rise in November. The Census & Statistics Department said the larger year-on-year rise was mainly attributable to bigger increases in private housing rents and jewellery prices.

Year-on-year increases in prices were recorded for miscellaneous goods (4.1%), electricity, gas and water (3.7%), housing (3.1%), food (excluding meals bought away from home) (2.4%), transport (1.9%), miscellaneous services (1.3%) and meals bought away from home (1.1%).

Year-on-year price falls were recorded for durable goods (-2.4%) and clothing and footwear (-1.6%). Prices of alcoholic drinks and tobacco remained unchanged.

In the fourth quarter last year, the Composite CPI rose 1.8% over a year earlier. For 2005 as a whole, the Composite CPI was on average 1.1% higher than in the preceding 12-month period.

Consumer price inflation remained mild. While private housing rents picked up further in December, prices of non-housing items taken together recorded only a modest rise.