Macao's Composite CPI (consumer price index) for July 2010 reached 104.61, an increase of 2.96 percent over the same period of last year, according to the figures released Friday by the city's Statistics and Census Service.

The price indices of clothing and footwear, transport, recreation and culture, miscellaneous goods and services, rose in July by 6.98 percent, 6.16 percent, 6.15 percent and 6.04 percent year-on-year respectively, the figures indicated.

Meanwhile, the price index of education dropped 9.81 percent year-on-year and that of communication decreased by 3.52 percent.

The Composite CPI for July 2010 increased by 0.21 percent month- to-month, with the price index of recreation and culture rising by 2.61 percent, attributable to higher charges for outbound package tours and recreational and cultural services during Summer Holidays.

In addition, the average Composite CPI for the first seven months of 2010 increased by 2.22 percent year-on-year.