The composite Consumer Price Index ( CPI) of Macao for October 2009 decreased by 1.10 percent year-on- year, according to the figures released on Tuesday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The figures showed that Composite CPI for October fell to 126.1, of which the price index of education fell substantially by 18.95 percent. Besides, falling prices of LPG, lower rentals for housing and reduced charges for mobile phone services drove the price indices of housing and fuels and communication down by 3.53 percent and 2.01 percent respectively.

On the contrary, price indices of clothing and footwear, miscellaneous goods and services and health increased by 5.49 percent, 3.35 percent and 2.92 percent respectively, attributable to higher charges for medical consultation, dearer prices of women 's clothing and gold jewelry.

Meanwhile, the Composite CPI for October 2009 increased by 0.28 percent month-to-month. The average Composite CPI for the first ten months of 2009 went up by 1.35 percent year-on-year. For the 12 months ended October 2009, the average Composite CPI rose by 2. 22 percent over the preceding period.