• ​Stability of CPI  of March 2016, compared to previous month (Feb 2016)
• CPI Annual change  3.3 %

        The Ministry of Development Planning & Statistics (MDPS) has released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of March 2016 (Base year 2013=100). The CPI of March, 2016 is estimated at 107.6, showing stability [M-o-M basis], when compared to CPI of February 2016. Compared to CPI of March 2015, an increase [Y-o-Y basis] of 3.3% has been registered in the general index (CPI) of this month.
    
 An analysis [on M-o-M basis] of CPI for March, 2016 compared with February, 2016 CPI, shows that there are Five main groups, where respective indices in this month have risen, namely: “Recreation and Culture” by 0.7 %. “Clothing and Footwear”, “Restaurants and Hotels, and “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” are increased by 0.4% each. “Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas” by 0.1%.  A decline in prices is also noticed in “Food and Beverages” by 0.7%, “Transport” by 0.6%. The other groups: “Tobacco”, “Furniture and Household Equipment”, “Health”, “Communication”, and “Education” have remained flat at the last month’s price level. Graph (4) and (5) show the movement of monthly CPIs of “Food and Beverages” and “Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas”.

              A comparison of the CPI, March, 2016 with the CPI, March, 2015, points a rise in the general index (CPI), by 3.3%. This [Y-o-Y] price surge is primarily due to the increasing prices seen in the eight groups, namely: “Recreation and Culture” by 11.2%, “Education” by 7.1%, “Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas” by 5.4%, “Furniture and Household Equipment” and  “Transport“ by 1.5% each, “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 1.4%, “Restaurants and Hotels” by 1.1%, and “Communication” by 0.2%. Also, there has been a decrease in price levels in other groups, namely:, “Food and Beverages” by 1.9%, “Health” by 0.3%. No change has been recorded in “Clothing and Footwear” and  “Tobacco” groups. Graph (1) shows the monthly and annual comparison for CPI of March 2016.
 
The CPI of March, 2016 excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas” group stands at 105.4, recorded stability  when compared to the index of February 2016, and an increase of 2.6% in comparison to the CPI of March, 2015. Table (2) presents CPI excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and Gas” and Graph (3) shows the monthly percentage change of CPI with and without Housing component.

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