Macao's Tourist Price Index up 6.33 pct in Q4 of 2013

Macao's Tourist Price Index (TPI) for the fourth quarter of 2013 rose by 6.33 percent over the same period of the previous year to 142.26, according to figures released Wednesday by the city's Statistics and Census Service ( DSEC).

The DSEC figures indicated that the price index of accommodation, food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco, and restaurant services increased notably in the period by 13.32 percent, 8.36 percent and 6.53 percent year-on-year respectively on account of higher hotel room rate, dearer prices of local food products and rising charges for restaurant services.

Meanwhile, lower prices of gold jewelry and communication equipment drove down the price index of miscellaneous goods by 6. 06 percent year-on-year.

Compared with the third quarter of 2013, the TPI for the fourth quarter went up by 10.41 percent quarter-to-quarter, of which the price index of accommodation and clothing and footwear increased by 35.86 percent and 10.84 percent respectively, according to the DSEC.

As for the whole of 2013, the TPI went up by 6.8 percent on a yearly basis.

The TPI reflects changes in the prices of goods and services purchased by visitors, which is compiled according to the consumption pattern of visitors.