THE Bureau of Statistic has reported that for the month of February 2004, a further 0.2% increase was recorded in the overall price level of consumer items monitored in the Urban (Georgetown) Consumer Price Index (CPI).
As a result, the cumulative price index for the year (from December 2003 to February 2004) has increased by 0.9%. On an annual basis, that is, when comparing February 2003 to February 2004, the Georgetown index rose by 5.1%, the Bureau of Statistics said yesterday.
The increase in prices of 0.2% in February was again influenced by an overall increase in prices in the Food group of 0.3%, it contended. This increase resulted from upward price movements in the sub-categories of Pulses and Pulse Products by 0.4%, Milk and Milk Products by 0.5%, Oils and Fats by 0.1%, Condiments and Spices by 3.9%, Fruits and Fruit Products by 15.3%, and Alcoholic Beverages by 2.0%. Decreases in the sub-categories of Meat, Fish and Eggs by 1.7%, and Vegetables and Vegetable Products by 2.1% did not reverse the overall upward price trend in the Food Group.
Additionally, there were also increases in the prices of other goods and services. The price levels within the Housing group, Furniture and Household Services group and Miscellaneous group respectively each increased by 0.1%, with the sub-category rent and Maintenance having an increase of 0.1% for the Housing group and Cleaning Materials having an increase of 0.3% for the Furniture group.
The Bureau of Statistics also indicated that the Transport and Communication group increased by 0.2%, with an increase in sub-categories of personal Transport Equipment by 0.2% and Operations of Personal Transport (Gasoline) by 1.0%.