Hong Kong consumer prices grow 1.2 percent in November

Hong Kong's overall inflation saw a modest 1.2 percent growth in November, official data showed. 

The increase in the consumer price index was the same as that in October and smaller than the 1.3 percent expansion projected by economists. 

Netting out the effects of all the government's one-off relief measures, the underlying inflation rate was 1 percent last month, unchanged from a month ago, the Census and Statistics Department said. 

In the first 11 months of the year, the city's inflation rose 1.4 percent.

Among the various components, a 3.5 percent year-on-year rise in prices was recorded for transport in November, followed by a 2.1 percent gain in alcoholic drinks and tobacco prices and a 1.9 percent hike in miscellaneous services.

On the other hand, the costs for clothing and footwear fell by 4.1 percent last month, and that for durable goods also declined 3.3 percent. 

A government spokesman said that consumer prices stayed subdued in November, and overall inflation should remain modest in the near term, as cost pressures on the domestic and external fronts are still broadly in check.