Almost 6% decrease in clothing and footwear index

In July, the Retail Price Index went down by 0.16 per cent. This primarily reflected a decrease of 5.63% in the Clothing and Footwear Index resulting from seasonally lower prices of garments.

The Food Index declined by 0.38 per cent due to lower vegetable prices. A downward movement in the price of jewellery underlay a decrease of 0.19 per cent in the Other Goods and Services Index.

Higher airfares caused the Transport and Communication Index to go up by 1.06 per cent. The Beverages and Tobacco Index increased by 0.35 per cent on account of higher wine prices.

An upward movement in the price of books brought about a rise of 0.16 per cent in the Recreation and Culture Index. An increase of 0.08 per cent was registered in the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index, mainly due to costlier household appliances.

The Personal Care and Health Index edged up by 0.05 per cent, mainly due to higher prices for hairdressing services. A similar increase was registered in the Housing Index, mainly as a result of price rises in respect of materials used for the maintenance and repair of dwellings.

In July the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.25 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.08 per cent.