Hong Kong's overall consumer prices rose 2.4 percent in April over the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced on Thursday.

April's Composite Consumer Price Index was slightly larger than the rate of increase in March, which was 2 percent.

Inflationary pressures increased modestly in April, along with a more entrenched economic recovery and the slightly faster increases in import prices in recent months, the department said.

Inflationary pressures may rise further if the current economic upswing continues, it added. Yet the sustained productivity growth and recent rapid expansion in business volume should help to alleviate part of the upward pressures on local businesses' unit operating costs. The Government will monitor the situation.