MACAO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Macao's composite consumer price index (CPI) in February 2019 increased by 2.79 percent year-on-year to 115.31, down by 0.25 percentage points from the 3.04 percent growth in January, the special administrative region's statistic service said here on Thursday.

The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) showed that the increment in February was attributable to dearer charges for eating out and higher rentals for dwellings as well as rising prices of motor cars, adults' clothing and fruits.

Among the various sections of goods and services, price indices of education, transport, clothing and footwear grew notably by 5.95 percent, 5.06 percent and 4.48 percent respectively year-on-year.

The composite CPI in February rose by 0.68 percent month-to-month. Higher charges for package tours and airfares during the Chinese Lunar New Year period and rising prices of gasoline pushed up the price indices of recreation and culture, transport by 8.41 percent and 1.74 percent respectively.

Price index of food and non-alcoholic beverages went up by 0.57 percent on account of increasing charges for eating out and dearer prices of vegetables, fruits and fresh fish. On the other hand, seasonal sale of winter clothing and footwear brought down the price index of clothing and footwear markedly by 2.34 percent.

In addition, price index of housing and fuels edged down by 0.05 percent as the decline in liquefied petroleum gas prices offset the increase in rentals for dwellings.

For the 12 months ended February 2019, the average composite CPI rose by 3.09 percent from the previous period, with notable growth in the price indices of clothing and footwear (6.33 percent) and transport (5.54 percent).