Hong Kong's inflation rose in August as the prices of fuel-related items and utilities stayed high.
The composite consumer price index during the month rose 1.7% year on year but stayed flat from the prior month, according to Wednesday's data from the Census and Statistics Department.
Without the government's one-off relief measures, the composite CPI rose 1.9% year on year.
Prices for utilities, such as electricity, water and gas, jumped the highest among commodities, rising 11.5% year on year, followed with a 4.7% increase in miscellaneous services' prices and transportation prices, which rose 3.9%.
Meanwhile, the prices for basic food slightly slipped 0.2% from a year earlier while that of alcoholic drinks and tobacco, and apparel remained flat.
A government spokesman said the overall inflation was at a moderate level despite the prices of fuel-related components remaining under pressure due to renewed geological tensions in the Middle East, triggering higher oil prices.
"The renewed escalation of tensions in the Middle East of late remains a key uncertainty and warrants close monitoring," the spokesman said. "Yet, as price pressures on other fronts are expected to remain largely contained, overall inflation should stay moderate."
