There has been no increase in consumer prices in June

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June is estimated at 107.6, showing no change compared to the figures of May this year.

The index has shown an increase of 2.5% compared to June, 2015, according to figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. The increase was mainly due to increase in prices seen in education; recreation and culture; transport; and housing, water and electricity and other fuels.

Month-on-month analysis of CPI for June, 2016, compared to that of May, 2016, shows that there are three main groups, where respective indices in this month have risen — “Transport” by 0.8%’ and “Clothing and Footwear” and “Recreation and Culture” by 0.7% each.

A decline in prices is also noticed in “Food and Beverages” by 1.8%; “Restaurants and Hotels” by 0.5%; “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 0.4%; and “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 0.1%.

Other groups: “Tobacco”; “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel”; “Health”; “Communication”; and “Education” have remained flat at the last month’s price level.

A comparison of the CPI for June, 2016, with the CPI of June the previous year, points to a rise in the general index by 2.5%.

This Year-on-Year price surge was primarily due to the increasing prices seen in the eight groups — “Education” by 7.1%; “Recreation and Culture” by 5.2%; “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” by 4.8%; “Transport” by 2.6%; “Miscellaneous Goods and Services” by 2.4%; “Clothing and Footwear” by 1.9%; “Furniture and Household Equipment” by 0.6%; and “Communication” by 0.1%.

There has been a decrease in price levels in other groups — “Food and Beverages” by 2.6%; “Health” by 1%; and “Restaurants and Hotels” by 0.5%. No change has been recorded in “Tobacco” groups.

The CPI of June 2016 excluding “Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuel” group stands at 105.5 and shows stability compared to the index of May 2016, and a 1.8% increase compared to the CPI of June, 2015.

Courtesy: thepeninsulaqatar.com