Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January to April 2008 increased by 2.7 per cent to 107.9 compared with that of 105.1 in the same period last year. Compared with that of the same month in 2007, the CPI increased by 3.0 per cent from 105.0 to 108.2 and when compared with the previous month, the CPI increased by 0.3 per cent.
CPI changes for the period January – April 2008 / 2007: The 2.7 per cent increase in the CPI was brought about by increases observed in the indices of all the main groups except those of Clothing & Footwear which decreased by 0.6 per cent respectively.
Other increases were Miscellaneous Goods & Services (+ 3.3 per cent); Recreation Services & Culture (+ 2.6 per cent); Education (+ 2.0 per cent) and Furnishings, (+ 1.5 per cent).
Monthly Changes for CPI: Compared with the previous month, the CPI for April 2008 increased by 0.3 per cent. Increases were shown in Clothing & Footwear (+ 0.6 per cent); Furnishing (+ 0.3 per cent); Recreation Services & Culture (+ 0.1 per cent) and Education (+ 0.1 per cent).
A reclassification of items according to their durability and services rendered showed increases in the index for Semi-Durable Goods (+ 0.5 per cent); Non-Durable Goods (+ 0.4 per cent) and Services (+ 0.2 per cent). Decreases in the index were recorded for Durable Goods (- 0.2 per cent).