CSO: Price increases for food, alcohol, tobacco

Business

Newsday Reporter

6 Hrs Ago

Market vendor Sharrie Singh, left, sells her tomatoes to a customer at the Arima Central Market in Arima on July 17. – Photo by Roger Jacob

THE price indices for food, tobacco and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages have increased, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO) consumer price index for June.

The indices reflect a proportionate increase in prices over a given period based on surveys conducted in groceries, shops and local markets.

The CSO’s all-items index, calculated from the prices collected for June, was 123.7, representing a 0.1 per cent increase above the index for May.

The price index for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased from 147.4 in May to 148.6 in June, reflecting an increase of 0.8 per cent.

According to the CSO report, the general upward movement in the prices of tomatoes, parboiled rice, fresh whole chicken, Irish potatoes, pumpkin, brown sugar, celery, ochroes, chives and green sweet peppers contributed significantly to this increase.

However, the full impact of these price increases was offset by the general decrease in the prices of cucumber, fresh carite, fresh king fish, cheddar cheese, frozen whole chicken, fresh red fish, fresh salmon, soyabean oil, table margarine and grapes.

The report noted that a further review of data for June reflected an increase in the sub-index for alcoholic beverages and tobacco of 0.2 per cent.

It also showed a decrease in the sub-index for clothing and footwear of 0.9 per cent.

All other sections remained unchanged.

The inflation rate, which measures the percentage change in the all-items index, for June was 0.7 per cent.

This represents a decrease from 0.9 per cent recorded in the previous period (May 2024/2023). The inflation rate for the comparative period (June 2023/2022) was 5.8 per cent.

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