Prices in the category of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels as measured by division the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) surged sharply by in March 13.1 percent and the category of Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ jumped 8.6 percent to help send inflation for March to the highest increase for 2020 to date.
The major items of the increase were tempered by the decline of 1.8 percent in the index for the group ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Related to the Dwelling.’
According to Statin, the All Jamaica Consumer Price Index recorded an increase of 1.1 percent for March this year. The increase was due primarily to the upward movements in the index for the groups, ‘Actual Housing Rentals and Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’, with the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division increasing by an average of 4.6 percent for the overall inflation the index.
“The index for the heaviest weighted division ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ rose by 0.2 per cent, while the index for the ‘Transport’ division advanced by 0.5 per cent”, Statin advised.
For the review period, the calendar year-to-date inflation rate is negative 0.6 percent, with January having negative inflation of 1.6 percent and February 0.1 percent, while the fiscal year ending in March, the inflation rate was 4.4 percent and the rate for the past twelve months is 5.2 percent.
March inflation in Jamaica jumps sharply
April 18, 2021 by
