Retail price index up by 0.34%, average inflation at 2.28% in August

In August, the Retail Price Index went up by 0.34 per cent. In August, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.28 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.25 per cent.

This primarily reflected an increase of 0.96 per cent in the Transport and Communication Index due to seasonally higher airfares.

A similar increase was registered in the Food Index, mainly on account of an upward movement in the price of fish. An increase of 0.18 per cent was registered in the Housing Index, mainly as a consequence of costlier materials for maintenance.

A rise in the price of wine caused the Beverages and Tobacco Index to go up by 0.14 per cent.

Costlier medical services underlay an increase of 0.07 per cent in the Personal Care and Health Index.

The Recreation and Culture Index edged up by 0.06 per cent, mainly on account of higher prices of books and magazines.

Seasonally cheaper garments caused the Clothing and Footwear Index to drop by 1.22 per cent. Lower furniture prices brought about a decrease of 0.83 per cent in the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index. The Other Goods and Services Index went down by 0.14 per cent, mainly due to a downward movement in the price of jewellery.