The Urban Consumer Price Index(CPI) slipped by 0.1% in November bringing the year-to date inflation rate to 5.3% and the annual rate to 4.9%.
The Bureau of Statistics states the decrease in prices of 0.1% in November was primarily influenced by an overall decrease by 0.7% of food group prices.
This decrease resulted from downward price movements in the sub-categories of pulses & pulse products by 1.3%, meat, fish and eggs by 4.3%, and fruits and fruit products by 7.4%.
Price increases followed in the sub-categories of cereals and cereal products by 0.5%; milk and milk products by 0.1%; oils and fats by 3.8%; condiments and spices by 1.7% and vegetables and vegetable products increasing by 1.8%, did not reverse the overall downward price trend in the food group.
Similarly, price increases in other goods and services did not affect the overall decline in the index for November.
For example, the retail prices for the housing group increased by 0.7% with sub-categories rent and maintenance (building materials) rising by 1% and fuel and power (domestic gas) by 0.4%.
The furniture group increased by 0.1%, with the sub-category cleaning materials rising by 0.2%. There were also increases in miscellaneous goods and services group by 0.2%.
It was noted that the petroleum products (kerosene oil, gasoline) which drove the index upward over the past months, stabilized in November.