Retail Price Index up by 0.78%

In April, the Retail Price Index went up by 0.78%. This primarily reflected an increase of 8.19% in the Clothing and Footwear Index, mainly due to seasonally higher prices of garments.

A rise in furniture prices resulted in a 0.85% increase in the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index.

The Beverages and Tobacco Index registered an increase of 0.67%, mainly due to a rise in the price of cigarettes.

An upward movement in the price of fuels caused the Transport and Communication Index to go up by 0.63%.

The Recreation and Culture Index went up by 0.62% as a result of higher tuition fees.

Higher fruit prices caused the Food Index to go up by 0.11%. The Housing Index edged up by 0.05%, mainly due to higher charges for certain construction works.

A drop in the price of gas underlay a decrease of 0.12% in the Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels Index.

The Other Goods and Services Index went down by 0.09% on account of lower jewellery prices.

In April, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.3%, whereas the annual rate stood at 1.40%.