Consumer prices in Singapore fell marginally in September with the largest percentage fall in housing costs.

Compared with September 2008, the consumer price index (CPI) in September 2009 was 0.4 per cent lower. Housing, which comprises 21 per cent of the CPI, fell 2.5 per cent from a year ago.

Food cost, which also makes up a large part of the Index at 23 per cent, rose by 0.8 per cent from last year.

Lower holiday travel cost depressed the costs of the recreation category by 1.8 per cent. Costs of transport and communication slid by 0.2 per cent due mainly to cheaper petrol.

For January to September this year, the CPI rose by 0.4 per cent compared with the same period in 2008.

From August 2009

There has been a steady decline in overall inflation in recent months, with CPI in September down by 0.1 per cent compared to August.

Housing cost receded by 0.5 per cent from August 2009 on account of lower service and conservancy charges as rebates were given in September 2009.

The consumer price index measures the change in the prices of a fixed basket of goods and services commonly purchased by the majority of households.