The CPI-based inflation for the month of August 2019 increased by 1.16 percent when compared to CPI of July 2019. Compared to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of August 2018, (Y-o-Y basis), a decrease of 0.04 percent has been recorded in the general index (CPI) of this month, which reached at 109.47point (base year is 2013).
The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that an analysis on M-o-M basis of CPI for August 2019 compared with July 2019 CPI, shows that there are six main groups, where respective indices in this month have increased, namely: Recreation and Culture by 4.17 percent, Transportation by 2.98 percent, Food and Beverages by 1.58 percent, Miscellaneous Goods and Services by 1.11 percent, Education by 0.93 percent, and Furniture and Household Equipment by 0.05 percent.
In the meantime, two main groups showed decrease, these are Clothing and Footwear by 1.6 percent and the Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas by 1.58 percent, reports QNA.
Restaurants and Hotels, Tobacco, Health, Communication, and Education groups had remained flat at the last month’s price level.
A comparison of the CPI, August 2019 with the CPI, August 2018 (Annual Change), shows a decrease in the general index (CPI), by 0.04 percent. This Y-o-Y price decrease is primarily due to the decreasing prices seen in four groups, namely: Recreation and Culture by 8.32 percent, Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas by 2.21 percent, Health by 0.08 percent, and Furniture and Household Equipment by 0.07 percent.
Also, there has been an increase in price levels in six groups namely: Tobacco by 127.19 percent, Miscellaneous Goods and Services by 4.38 percent, Transportation by 2.26 percent, Food and Beverages and Clothing and Footwear by 1.91 percent each, Restaurants and Hotels by 1.27 percent, Communication by 1.26 percent and Education by 0.93 percent.
The CPI of August, 2019 excluding Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel group stands at 110.78 points showing an increase of 1.16 percent when compared to the index of July 2019, and by 0.56 percent when compared to the CPI of August, 2018.
Source from: The Peninsula