​• Increase  by 1.1% in MEPI indicator in the second half of 2018.
• Annual rate of MEPI increase by 1.0%.

The Planning & Statistics Authority (PSA) has released the Machinery & Equipment Price Index (MEPI) for the second half 2018, Which reached 102.6  points, that increase compared to the first half of the year 2018 with 1.1% , increase with 1.0% when compared with the counterpart of the previous year 2017. The MEPI is one the economic indicators produced by the Authority. This indicator calculated as semi - annual, with base year 2013.

A comparison of the SECOND HALF, 2018 with that of the FIRST HALF,  2018 :
An analysis [on H-o-H basis] of MEPI [second half, 2018 against first half, 2018 changes ] shows that six  of  the main groups were increased namely: “Radio, Television and Communication Equipment & Apparatus” group by 4.4%, followed by “Office, Accounting and Computing machinery” group by 2.4%, “Medical appliances, precision and optical instruments, watches and clocks” group by 3.3%, “Transport equipment” group by 0.8%, “Special-purpose machines”  group by 0.5%,  and “Machinery and Electrical Appliances” group by 0.4%. A decrease recorded in “Musical instruments” group by  3.6 %, followed by “Metal tools and tools” group by 3.8% and “General purpose machinery” group by 2.0% .

A comparison of the SECOND HALF, 2018 with the SECOND HALF, 2017 (Yearly Changes ):
A comparison of the MEPI of second half, 2018 with the first half, 2017,  MEPI has been increased by 1.0%, affected by groups prices increased namely : “Office, Accounting and Computing machinery” group by 2.9%, “Radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus” group by 3.8%, “Medical appliances, precision and optical instruments, watches and clocks” group by 3.3%, “Transport equipment” group by 0.6%, and “Special purpose machines” group by 0.2%.

A decrease recorded in “Musical instruments” group by 4.2%, “Metal tools and tools” group by 4.1%, “General  purpose machinery” group by 2.0%, and “Machinery and electrical appliances” group by 0.5% .

For more information click here