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Consumer Prices Rise 1.4% Year-on-Year in March 2025, Underlying Inflation at 1.0%

HK

Consumer Prices Rise 1.4% Year-on-Year in March 2025, Underlying Inflation at 1.0%
HK

HK

Consumer Prices Rise 1.4% Year-on-Year in March 2025, Underlying Inflation at 1.0%

2025-04-23 16:30 Last Updated At:16:38

Consumer Price Indices for March 2025

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (April 23) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for March 2025. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 1.4% in March 2025 over the same month a year earlier, smaller than the average rate of increase in January and February 2025 (1.7%). Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in March 2025 was 1.0%, also smaller than the average rate of increase in January and February 2025 (1.3%). The comparison to the average rate of increase in January and February is to neutralise the effect caused by the different timing of the Chinese New Year between two years, which occurred in January this year but in February last year. The smaller increase in March 2025 was mainly due to the decreases in inbound and outbound transport fares and the charges for package tours.

Comparing March 2025 with February 2025, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI in March 2025 was 1.4%, the same as that in February 2025. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI in March 2025 was 1.0%, slightly smaller than the corresponding increase in February 2025 (1.1%).

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending March 2025 was 0.0%, the same as that for the 3-month period ending February 2025. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of change were both 0.0%.

Analysed by sub-index, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.0%, 1.2% and 1.0% respectively in March 2025, as compared to the average rates of increase of 2.2%, 1.5% and 1.3% respectively in January and February 2025, and 2.0%, 1.2% and 1.0% respectively in February 2025. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rates of increase in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 1.4%, 0.9% and 0.8% respectively in March 2025, as compared to the average rates of increase of 1.7%, 1.2% and 1.2% respectively in January and February 2025, and 1.4%, 1.0% and 0.9% respectively in February 2025.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, for the 3-month period ending March 2025, the average monthly rates of change in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 0.1%, 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. The corresponding rates of change for the 3-month period ending February 2025 were 0.1%, 0.0% and 0.1% respectively. Netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures, the average monthly rates of change in the seasonally adjusted CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) for the 3-month period ending March 2025 were -0.1%, 0.0% and 0.0% respectively, the same as those for the 3-month period ending February 2025.

Amongst the various components of the Composite CPI, year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in March 2025 for electricity, gas and water (14.0%), alcoholic drinks and tobacco (4.4%), transport (1.7%), housing (1.7%), meals out and takeaway food (1.3%), miscellaneous goods (1.0%), and miscellaneous services (1.0%).

On the other hand, year-on-year decreases in the components of the Composite CPI were recorded in March 2025 for clothing and footwear (-2.8%), basic food (-1.5%), and durable goods (-0.5%).

In the first quarter of 2025, the Composite CPI rose by 1.6% over a year earlier, while the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose by 2.2%, 1.4% and 1.2% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.2%, 1.6%, 1.1% and 1.0% respectively.

For the 12 months ending March 2025, the Composite CPI was on average 1.6% higher than that in the preceding 12-month period. The respective increases in the CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) were 2.1%, 1.5% and 1.4% respectively. The corresponding increases after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures were 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.1% and 1.1% respectively.

Commentary

A Government spokesman said that the underlying consumer price inflation stayed modest in March. The underlying Composite CPI increased by 1.0% over a year earlier in March, smaller than the increase of 1.3% in January and February combined. Price pressures on various major components stayed contained in general.

Looking ahead, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term. External price pressures should be broadly in check, though escalating trade conflicts continue to warrant attention. The Government will monitor the situation closely.

Further information

The CPIs and year-on-year rates of change at section level for March 2025 are shown in Table 1. The time series on the year-on-year rates of change in the CPIs before and after netting out the effects of all Government's one-off relief measures are shown in Table 2. For discerning the latest trend in consumer prices, it is also useful to look at the changes in the seasonally adjusted CPIs. The time series on the average monthly rates of change during the latest 3 months for the seasonally adjusted CPIs are shown in Table 3. The rates of change in the original and the seasonally adjusted Composite CPI and the underlying inflation rate are presented graphically in Chart 1.

More detailed statistics are given in the "Monthly Report on the Consumer Price Index". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1060001&scode=270).

For enquiries about the CPIs, please contact the Consumer Price Index Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7374 or email: cpi@censtatd.gov.hk).

DH responds to media enquiries on air-conditioning interruption in private hospital

In response to media enquiries regarding the air-conditioning interruption that occurred at St. Teresa's Hospital in July 2024 for about an hour, the Department of Health (DH) today (May 14) gave the following response:

Regulatory regime

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The DH regulates licensed private hospitals in accordance with the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) (the Ordinance). The Code of Practice for Private Hospitals (the CoP) issued by the Director of Health in accordance with the Ordinance sets forth licensing and operating standards for private hospitals, including the relevant requirements for hospital facilities and equipment.

The CoP stipulates that hospital installations and equipment must be kept in good operational order and requires hospitals to have contingency plans for emergencies (such as fire and the cessation of water or electricity supply). It also sets out that healthcare engineering systems (including electrical installations, specialised ventilation systems and medical gas supplies) must be properly maintained to meet the service need and ensure patient safety. Reportable events for private hospitals are also set out in the CoP.

The DH regularly reviews and updates regulatory standards for private healthcare facilities, together with the experts of the Advisory Committee for Regulatory Standards for Private Healthcare Facilities in accordance with the established mechanism of the Advisory Committee. The DH will also continue to review the CoP in accordance with the mechanism in order to protect the interest of the public.

Investigation work

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Regarding the incident at St. Teresa's Hospital, the DH was notified by a doctor on September 2, 2024, about an air-conditioning interruption in the operating theatres on the second floor of the hospital concerned in the evening of July 31, 2024, which lasted approximately one hour.

Although air-conditioning interruption is not a reportable event of private hospitals, the DH considered that the incident might have potential patient safety concerns and therefore promptly initiated an investigation on the same day (September 2, 2024) the notification was received. The DH sent staff to conduct an inspection at the hospital concerned, checked relevant documents, evaluated the effectiveness of its contingency measures, assessed the environmental condition of the operating theatres during the interruption and followed up on the remedial actions.

According to the investigation, the incident involved a malfunction of the air-conditioning system used to regulate the room temperature which lasted for about one hour. During which, 10 surgeries were performed in various operating theatres. The hospital explained that dehumidifiers were immediately deployed in the operating theatres where higher risk surgeries were being performed, including the one where the doctor was performing an operation. According to the hospital and the nurses on site, the severity of condensation in the operating theatre did not result in water dripping onto the surgical site of patients. The ventilation system used for infection control in the operating theatres (including air filtration equipment, hourly air change rate and a positive pressure environment) was operating normally. Apart from immediately responding to the incident, the hospital has also worked with its contractor to identify the cause of the incident and take measures to prevent recurrence of similar incidents.

In addition, the hospital conducted prompt follow-up by conducting air sampling of the operating theatres and surveillance on conditions of patients who underwent surgeries during the affected period for infection, with no abnormality detected. Based on the available evidence gathered, the DH considered that there was insufficient evidence to show that the hospital has breached the requirements of the Ordinance or the CoP.

Complaint handling

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The Ordinance also provides for a complaints handling mechanism against private healthcare facilities, which includes the establishment of the statutory Committee on Complaints Against Private Healthcare Facilities (Complaints Committee), with the DH serving as the Secretariat, to handle complaints lodged by patients against licensed private healthcare facilities (including private hospitals).

There were media enquiries on whether the DH had received any complaints from patients. According to the DH's existing records, the DH received a call on September 12, 2024, from a member of the public who enquired about the complaint procedure against private healthcare facilities, and mentioned the air-conditioning system of St. Teresa's Hospital was not functioning properly when underwent surgeries. The Secretariat explained to the enquirer the function of the Complaints Committee and statutory procedures of lodging a complaint promptly. The Secretariat on the following day (September 13, 2024) sent information on the complaint procedures with complaint form and statutory declaration form to the email address provided by the person as requested. The enquirer confirmed receipt of the concerned information and forms by email but since then, the Complaints Committee has not received any complaint from the concerned enquirer in relation to this incident.

The DH has completed investigation based on all available information, but will continue to closely monitor licensed private healthcare facilities. If there is new and concrete evidence, the DH will take appropriate actions as necessary to safeguard patient safety.

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