Hong Kong saw a larger year-on- year consumer price increase in June, as the discussion on goods and services tax is getting more intense among the public.

According to the Census and Statistics Department Friday, the overall costs in June went up 2.2 percent over the same month last year and 2.1 percent on May's growth. The rise was mainly attributable to enlarged increases in the price of fresh vegetables and charges for household services.

In June, the largest year-on-year increases in prices were recorded in housing, which is 4.9 percent followed by food 3 percent, electricity, gas and water 2.4 percent and transport 0.6 percent.

Year-on-year prices drops were recorded for durable goods, alcohol and tobacco.

For the first half of 2006 as a whole, the Composite Consumer Price Index rose 1.8 percent over a year earlier.

The government said consumer price inflation edged up but was still moderate in June, amidst the continued expansion of the economy.

Source: Xinhua