TAIPEI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 1.98 percent year on year in April, the island's statistics agency said Wednesday.

Tobacco prices rose 36.16 percent due to the increase in cigarette tax, and the price of fuels increased 12.08 percent as international oil prices kept rising.

Food prices grew 2.69 percent year on year, with vegetables and seafood climbing by 7.76 percent and 3.97 percent, respectively, but were offset by the drop in fruit and egg prices.

The April core CPI, which excludes vegetables, fruit and energy, saw a mild year-on-year rise of 1.3 percent.

The island's CPI grew 1.65 percent year on year in the first four months of the year, while the core CPI gained 1.51 percent year on year during the same period.