Inflation up 0.86%

The composite consumer price index (CPI) grew 0.86% year-on-year to 104.28 in March. The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service attributed the increase to higher charges for dining out, rising wages of domestic helpers and increased tuition fees, as well as dearer fruit prices and hotel room rates. However, the rise was partially offset by lower rentals for dwellings and reduced airfares. For the 12 months ending March, the average composite CPI increased 1% from the previous period. The average composite CPI for the first quarter went up by 0.80% year-on-year.