The Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) has released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of May 2021. The CPI of May 2021 reached to 98.05 points showing an increase by 0.83% when compared to CPI of April 2021. Compared to CPI of May 2020, [Y-o-Y basis], an increase of 2.47% has been recorded in the general index (CPI) of this month. 

 

An analysis [on M-o-M basis] of CPI for May 2021 compared with CPI, April 2021, showed that there were five main groups, where respective indices in this month have increased, namely: “Recreation and Culture” by 10.97%, followed by “Clothing and Footwear” by 2.77%, Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 1.10%, “Food and Beverages” by 1.09%, “and “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 0.09%. A decrease has been recorded in “Transport” by 1.46%, “Restaurants and Hotels” by 1.23%, Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 0.74%, and “Education” by 0.06%. “Tobacco”, “Health”, and “Communication” had remained flat at the last month’s price level.

A comparison of the CPI, May 2021 with the CPI, May 2020 (Annual Change), an increase has been recorded in the general index (CPI), by 2.47%. This [Y-o-Y] price increase primary due to the prices rising in eight groups namely: “Transport” by 13.15%, “Restaurants and Hotels” by 5.6%, Communication” by 4.03%, “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 3.93%, “Education” by 3.72%, “Food and Beverages” by 3.46%, “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 3.27%, and “Recreation and Culture” by 2.28%. A decrease has been shown in price levels of three groups namely: Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 6.17%, “Clothing and Footwear” by 3.31%, and “Health” by 0.07%. No changes recorded on “Tobacco”. 

The CPI of May 2021 excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” group stands at 100.85 points recorded an increase of 1.20%, when compared to the index of April 2021, and a 4.72% when compared to the CPI of May 2020. 

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