THE Bureau of Statistics yesterday reported that the month of March 2004 recorded a further 0.8% increase 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 March, 2004) increased by 1.7%, the bureau said in a statement.
It said, too, that on an annual basis, that is when comparing the price levels from March 2003 to March 2004, the Georgetown index rose by 5.1%.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, the increase in prices of 0.8% last month was again influenced by an overall increase in prices in the food group of 1.0%.
This increase resulted from upward price movements in the sub-categories of cereals and cereal products by 0.1%; meat, fish and eggs by 0.3%; oils and fats by 0.2%; condiments and spices by 0.9%; vegetables and vegetable products by 6.8%; fruits and fruit products by 2.9; and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.3%.
The bureau said decreases in the sub-categories of pulses and pulse products by 2.3% and milk and milk products by 0.5% did not reverse the overall upward price trend in the food group.
In respect to other goods and services, it noted that the housing group increased by 1.1% of which the sub-categories rent and maintenance (timber, cement and electrical wire) rose by 1.1% and fuel and power (domestic gas and kerosene oil) by 1.2%.
In the furniture group, the price level increased by 0.3% with the sub-category of cleaning materials recording an increase of 0.8%.
The transport and communication group also increased by 0.4% with increases in the sub-categories of personal transport equipment by 0.2%; operations of personal transport (gasoline) by 1.1% and purchased transport services (airfares) by 0.4%.