Consumer prices in Hong Kong rose 0.5 percent in April over the same month last year, but the figure was less than March's 0.8 percent surge, the Census and Statistics Department said Monday.

The smaller year-on-year increase was mainly attributable to moderate growth in the charges for package tours and in the price of jewelry and food.

The moderate increase suggested inflationary pressure remained benign. As the dragging effect of the earlier fall-offs in private housing rentals wanes further and as economic upturn continues, consumer prices are expected to edge up gradually in the months ahead.

The CPI(A), CPI(B) and CPI(C) rose 0.7 percent, 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent in April, also smaller than the corresponding increases of 1.1 percent, 0.8 percent and 0.3 percent in March.

Source: Xinhua