NEWS RELEASE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
February 2006
March 16, 2006

The February Consumer Price Index Bulletin released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica reveals that the all Jamaica ‘All Group’ Consumer Price Index for February 2006 was 2295.1, reflecting a negligible movement of 0.0 percent over the index for the month of January. Similar movements of 0.1 percent were recorded for both January 2006 and December 2005. For the calendar year to date the rate of inflation was 0.1 percent, 0.4 percentage point below the 0.5 percent recorded for the similar period in 2005. The rate of inflation for the fiscal year to date, March 2005 to February 2006 was 11.3 percent
For the period February 2005 to February 2006, the rate of inflation was 12.4 percent, in comparison to 12.7 percent for the corresponding period last year.

A look at the regional indices shows an increase of 0.4 percent for the ‘Kingston Metropolitan Area’ and declines of 0.1 and 0.6 percent for ‘Other Towns’ and ‘Rural Areas’.

For the month of February 2006, increases were recorded in six of the eight major group indices, however the decline in the indices for ‘Transportation and particularly ‘Food and Drink’ resulted in the negligible movement in the All Jamaica ‘All group index. The index for the group ‘Food and Drink’ recorded a decline of 0.9 percent. This was largely due to reductions in the index for the sub-group ‘Starchy Foods’ and ‘Vegetables and Fruit’ which fell by 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The index for the group ‘Fuels and other Household Supplies’ increased by 1.2 percent. The index for the sub-group ‘Fuels recorded a significant movement of 1.9 percent, while ‘Household Supplies moved upwards by 0.6 percent.