An increase in food group prices by 1.5% caused the consumer price index to increase by 0.8% in August.
Consumer items monitored in the Urban (Georgetown) Consumer Price Index(CPI) now stand 5.4% higher than they were in August 2003, according to the Bureau of Statistics.
The price index value moved from 191.3 in July 2004 to 192.7 in August with the inflation for the year (December 2003 to August), measured at 4.6%.
Food price increases resulted from upward price movements in sub-categories of cereals products by 0.4%; pulses and pulse products by 1.1%; meat, fish and eggs by 5.9%; and milk and milk products by 0.5%.
Oils and fats increased by 2.4%; condiments and spices by 4.2%; sugar, honey and related products by 1.1%; alcoholic beverages by 0.7% and tobacco and tobacco products by 0.5%. Decreases of 0.3% were recorded in sub-categories of vegetables and vegetable products; fruits and fruit products by 3.6% and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.1%.
There were also increases in the housing group which increased by 0.4%; with its rent and maintenance price index(cement, stones and nails) increasing by 0.6%.
The furniture group recorded a 0.1% increase of which sub-category cleaning materials rose by 0.2%. The transport and communication group price index recorded an overall increase of 0.3%. The sub-category(purchases transport services-airfare) increased by 1.2%. A decline of 0.1% was recorded in the sub-category personal transport equipment.
Medical and personal care increased by 1.2% with the sub-categories of medical expenses(tablets and pills) and hospital/related care recording an increase of 2.1% and 1.2% respectively. Miscellaneous goods and services increased by 0.3%.