April-May sees a 0.6 per cent rise in prices

By Adel Fruean 18 June 2021, 7:30AM

The Consumer Price Index (C.P.I.) for May this year was 0.6 per cent higher than April and was 1.8 per cent higher than May last year. 

The figures were revealed in a recent report released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.) which stated that the 0.6 per cent increase in the overall Index is attributed mainly to an increase of 1.8 per cent in the transport index. 

On the contrary, decreases were recorded for other divisions namely furnishing, household equipment and maintenance index with 0.7 per cent and clothing and footwear index with 0.2 per cent. 

However, there were no changes recorded for the alcoholic beverages and tobacco, communication, education and restaurants indices. 

For the 12 months ending May 2020 the inflation rate was 1.8 per cent.  

With 1.4 per cent increase in the recreation and culture, 0.7 per cent increase in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index, 0.7 per cent increase in the Health index, 0.1 per cent increase in the housing, water, electricity gas and other fuel and 0.1 per cent increase in the miscellaneous good and services index.

As for the average annual inflation for the year ended May 2021, it was negative 3.6 per cent. 

“In the year to May 2021, the C.P.I. rose 1.8 per cent,” reads the report. 

Furthermore, the imported goods component of the C.P.I. registered an increase of 1.3 per cent when compared to the previous month. This increase was mainly due to higher prices recorded for imported food, fuel (petrol, diesel and kerosene), exercise book, medicine (amoxicillin tablet), spirit (whiskey) and paint. 

In addition, price drops were recorded for beer, fresh fish (string and large), salted beef, tomatoes and jandals resulting in the 0.2 per cent decrease in the local goods component. 

However, higher prices were recorded for fuel (petrol and diesel) and this was reflected in the 1.8 per cent increase in the transport index. 

The recreation and culture index recorded an increase of 1.4 per cent higher due to the rise in price recorded for exercise books. 

Whereas an increase of 0.7 per cent in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index was a reflection of the higher prices recorded for chicken leg quarter, raw sugar, canned beef, taro, fresh fish (piece), mutton flap, turkey wing, mutton neck and taamu.

Additionally, the 0.7 per cent increase in the health index was a result of the higher prices recorded for medicine (amoxicillin tablet).

By Adel Fruean 18 June 2021, 7:30AM
Samoa Observer

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