The Ministry of Development Planning & Statistics (MDPS) has released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of April 2017. The CPI of April, 2017 reached to 108.4 ( base year is 2013) showing a decrease by 0.2%, when compared to CPI of March, 2017. Compared to CPI of April, 2016, [Y-o-Y basis] of 0.6%  increase has been recorded in the general index (CPI) of this month. 

     

 An analysis [on M-o-M basis] of CPI for April, 2017 compared with March, 2017 CPI, shows that there are four main groups, where respective indices in this month have decreased, namely: “Restaurants and Hotels “by 0.9%, “Recreation and Culture” by 0.8%, “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 0.6%, and “Communication” by 0.1%.   An increase in prices is also noticed in “Health” by 1.9%, “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 0.6%, “Food and Beverages” by 0.5%, “Transport” by 0.3%, and “Clothing and Footwear” by 0.2%. The other groups: “Tobacco”, “Furniture and Household Equipment” and “Education” have remained flat at the last month’s price level.

              A comparison of the CPI, April, 2017 with the CPI, April, 2016 (Annual Change), points a rise in the general index (CPI), by 0.6%. This [Y-o-Y] price surge is primarily due to the increasing prices seen in the six groups, namely: “Transport” by 8.4%”, “Education” by 3.0%, “Health” by 2.6%, “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” and “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 1.4% each, and “Clothing and Footwear” by 0.2%. Also, there has been a decrease in price levels in five groups, namely: “Restaurants and Hotels” by 2.7%, “Recreation and Culture” by 2.6%, “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 1.5%, “Food and Beverages” by 1.3%, “Communication” by 0.1%. No changes recorded in “Tobacco” group.

  

The CPI of April, 2017 excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” group stands at 107.0, showing  stability when compared to the index of March 2017, and an increase of 1.3%  when compared to the CPI of April 2016.

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