The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) has released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of March 2021. The CPI of March 2021 reached to 97.18 point showing an increase by 0.16% when compared to CPI of February 2021. Compared to CPI of March 2020, [Y-o-Y basis], a decrease of 0.30% has been recorded in the general index (CPI) of this month. 

An analysis [on M-o-M basis] of CPI for March 2021 compared with CPI, February2021, showed that there were five main groups, where respective indices in this month have increased, namely: “Transport” by 3.75%, “Clothing and Footwear” by 1.18%, “Restaurants and Hotels” by 0.39%, “Furniture and Household Equipment”, and “Education” by 0.02%, 0.01% respectively and both of them show almost stable. A decrease has been recorded in following groups: “Recreation and Culture” by 4.26%, “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 0.91%, “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 0.34%, and “Food and Beverages” by 0.13%. “Tobacco”, “Health”, and “Communication” had remained flat at the last month’s price level. 

A comparison of the CPI, March 2021 with the CPI, March 2020 (Annual Change), a decrease has been recorded in the general index (CPI), by 0.30%. This [Y-o-Y] price decrease primary due to the prices decline in five groups namely: “Recreation and Culture” by 9.22%, "Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 5.85%, “Clothing and Footwear” by 5.12%, “Health” by 0.20%, and “Food and Beverages” by 0.09%. An increase has been shown in price levels of six groups namely: “Transport” by 6.87%, “Restaurants and Hotels” by 4.01%, Communication” by 3.91%, “Education” by 3.73%, Furniture and Household Equipment” by 2.63%, and Recreation and Culture” by 1.48%. No changes recorded on “Tobacco”. 

The CPI of March 2021 excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” group stands at 99.46 points recorded an increase of 0.29%, when compared to the index of February 2021, and a 1.13% when compared to the CPI of March 2020.

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