THE Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April 2018 increased by 0.4 per cent year-on-year compared to April 2017.
The Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages prices increased by 2.5 per cent, while the Non-Food prices decreased by 0.1 per cent year-on-year.
The CPI increase in April 2018 was mainly due to an increase in prices of Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (2.5 per cent); Education (1.8 per cent); and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (1.2 per cent).
However, this was moderated by the decrease in prices of Clothing and Footwear (3.4 per cent); Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (1.2 per cent); and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (0.7 per cent).
The Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages prices increased following the rise in prices of soft drinks in line with the implementation of the Customs Import Duties (Amendment No 2) Order, 2017 and Excise Duties (Amendment No 2) Order, 2017 on April 1, 2017.
Meanwhile, the increase in the cost of Education took into account the increase in school fees of primary and secondary education in selected private schools.
The increase in prices of Miscellaneous Goods & Services was due to the rise in prices of travel goods and bags.
On a month-a-month basis, the CPI in April 2018 decreased by 0.6 per cent compared to March 2018.
The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index as well as Non-Food Index both recorded decreased by 0.6 per cent.
The CPI is a measure of price changes of goods and services paid by the consumer in a specified period and compiled on a monthly basis.
The list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household from the Household Expenditure Survey (HES). The CPI full report for April 2018 is available from DEPD’s website, www.depd.gov.bn.