Year-on-year, prices went up further for transport (2.7 percent from 2 percent in March); housing (4.3 percent from 2.9 percent), namely private housing rent (3.9 percent from 2.2 percent); and miscellaneous services (3.1 percent from 1.1 percent). Additionally, cost dropped less for electricity, gas and water (-4.3 percent from -5.4 percent) and durable goods (-2.1 percent from -2.4 percent).
Meanwhile, prices slowed for food (3 percent from 3.1 percent), in particular meals bought away from home (2.2 percent from 2.3 percent) and other food (4.6 percent from 4.7 percent); miscellaneous goods (1.9 percent from 2.1 percent); and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (2.3 percent from 2.5 percent). Also, cost of clothing and footwear fell(-1 percent from 0.3 percent).
Underlying consumer inflation, which excludes the effects of one-off government relief measures such as tax cuts for lower income individuals; extra allowance for the elderly, child & disabled people; students' grants increased to 3 percent in April from 2.4 percent in the prior month.
"Looking ahead, inflation will likely stay moderate in the near term. The earlier easing in fresh-letting residential rentals should have a mitigating effect in the coming months. External price pressures have also eased recently. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly the impact on the lower-income people", a Government spokesman said.