The larger increase in September was due to the low base of comparison arising from the Government's payment of public housing rentals in September of 2013, and such effect did not come into play in October.
Year-on-year, the biggest price increases were recorded for electricity, gas and water (26.1 percent), mainly because some households had used up the full amount of Government's one-off electricity charge subsidy); housing (8.5 percent), due mainly to dissipation of effect of rates concession in October; alcoholic drinks and tobacco (7.5 percent), mainly due to the increase of tobacco duty); meals bought away from home (4.6 percent); food (excluding meals bought away from home) (3.6 percent); miscellaneous services (2.1 percent); transport (1.9 percent) and miscellaneous goods (1.9 percent).
Year-on-year price decreases were recorded for durable goods (-3.6 percent) and clothing and footwear (-0.6 percent).