A vendor sells dried produce on a street in Hong Kong on Sept 21, 2022. (PHOTO / AFP)

HONG KONG – The overall consumer prices in Hong Kong rose 2.0 percent in September compared to the same month last year, larger than the 1.8 percent increase in August, government data released on Friday showed.

Netting out the effects of the government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in September’s underlying inflation rate was 1.8 percent, also larger than the average increase rate of 1.5 percent in August, according to the Census and Statistics Department. 

The larger increase was mainly due to the increases in food prices, in particular for fresh vegetables whose prices increased significantly due to the impact of typhoons and extreme weather conditions occurred in early September, the department said

The larger increase was mainly due to the increases in food prices, in particular for fresh vegetables whose prices increased significantly due to the impact of typhoons and extreme weather conditions occurred in early September, the department said. Prices of meals out and takeaway food increased at a faster pace.  

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The Typhoon Signal No 10 was raised for the first time since 2018 when Super Typhoon Saola lashed the city on Sept 1 while the torrential rains on Sept 7 and 8 led to the issuance of the Black Rainstorm Warning that lasted for 16 hours and 35 minutes, the longest since the rainstorm warning system was introduced in 1992.

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government spokesman said that the underlying consumer price inflation rate remained moderate in September.

Prices of clothing and footwear, and electricity continued to rise notably, but the rate of increase for the latter eased further. Price pressures on other major components remained broadly in check.

Looking ahead, overall inflation should stay moderate in the near term. External price pressures are expected to abate further, the spokesman said.

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While domestic business cost might face some upward pressures, it should remain contained in the near term. The government will continue to monitor the situation, he added.