The rate that consumer prices rose by, moderated further in “August with an increase in the inflation rate of 0.3 percent,” according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), coming down from 0.6 percent in July and 0.7 percent in June.
“The rate of inflation for the calendar year-to-date was 3 percent,” Statin stated. Inflation rate over the last twelve months is up 4.4 percent and the fiscal year-to-date 2 percent.
“Prices for Recreation and Culture rose 1.3 percent in August” and was “due to mainly to increased prices for books and other school equipment,” Statin said. Higher prices for produce such as cabbage, potato and yam, pushed the index for Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages by 0.6 percent, the report stated.
Other divisions that recorded increases in prices are: Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 0.4 percent, Clothing and Footwear at 0.2 percent, Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance at 0.1 per cent, Health at 0.2 per cent, Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 0.1 percent, Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 0.1 percent. There were no movement for the divisions Communication, Education and Transport.