Aruba Economy: Price increase 0.8 percent … CPI increased with 3.11 percent this year to 136.84

Price increase 0.8 percent (Amigoe: June 9, 2008)

ORANJESTAD – The Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) announced that the consumer price index (cpi) went up again with 0.83 percent in May, compared to April.  This year, the prices increase every month: compared the month before, the increase was 0.47 in March and 0.5 in April, and because of this, the cpi increased with 3.11 percent this year and is now 136.84.  The increase of the cpi in the first 5 months of this year is lower than in the same period in 2007, which was 4.52 percent. 

The prices for transport and communication, food, recreation, and household increased in April.  The prices that increased the most are in the food sector; with 1.18 percent average.  The prices for ready-made food increased with 2.95 percent, for vegetables, potatoes and fruit, 2.7 percent; for cereal products, milk products, sugar, and sugar products, more than 1.5 percent.

Also the prices for transport and communication increased the most, 1.97 percent; own transportation 3.38 percent, and auto-parts, 2.45 percent.

The cpi increased with 8.72 percent in the past 12 months, 4.31 percent compared to May 2006 – May 2007; in the past 24 months, 7.64 percent. 

The cpi is the most important criterion for the inflation.  The increase of the Inflation is almost the same as that of the cpi.