Macao's tourist price index (TPI) reached 127.71 in the third quarter, down 1.44 percent on the previous season, according to official statistics issued Monday.

The statistics released by the government-run Statistics and Census Service (SCS) attribute the TPI decrease mainly to the price slide-down occurred in the sectors of housing and clothing.

The TPI, however, saw a year-on-year increase of 8.59 percent in the third quarter, the figures showed.

The TPI is an indicator that reflects the price changes of goods and services purchased by visitors.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2007)