Hong Kong Sept CPI rises 0.5 pct from yr earlier

HONG KONG, Oct 22 - Hong Kong September consumer price data:

* HK's underlying CPI fell 0.3 pct in September year-on-year KEY DATA Percent change from a year earlier

2009 2009 2008

Sep Aug Sep Composite CPI 0.5 -1.6 3.0 CPI (A) 0.8 -2.4 -0.3 CPI (B) 0.5 -1.5 4.0 CPI (C) 0.1 -1.0 5.4 Underlying CPI change** -0.3 -0.3 6.1 ** Inflation excluding temporary waivers on public rents, quarterly taxes on property, and subsidies for utilities charges. Percent change from previous month

2009 2009 2008

Sep Aug Sep Composite CPI 0.8 -1.7 -1.4 CPI (A) 1.0 -4.4 -2.2 CPI (B) 0.7 -0.9 -1.3 CPI (C) 0.6 unch -0.6

For the three-month period ended September 2009, the monthly average rate of composite CPI was down a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent. KEY POINTS * Retail discounts, government waivers pulled down CPI * Consumers are cautious as the jobless rate remains high, but prices seem stablised LINKS

To view the full details of the CPI data, see the Hong Kong government website at: http://www.info.gov.hk/hkecon/key/index.htm Notes: The composite CPI is based on the combined expenditure pattern of households covered by the three CPIs.

CPI (A), Hong Kong's broadest measure of inflation, is based on the 50 percent of households spending between HK$4,000 and HK$15,499 per month as of the fiscal 2004/2005 base year.

CPI (B) is based on the 30 percent of households that spend HK$15,500 to HK$27,499 per month as of the 2004/2005 fiscal year base.

CPI (C), published by Hang Seng Bank Ltd., is based on the 10 percent of households spending HK$27,500 to HK$59,999 as of the 2004/2005 fiscal year base. Source: Census and Statistics Department