NEWS RELEASE
REVISED CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
September 2007

November 7, 2007

The Consumer Price Index Bulletin for September 2007 released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica introduces the Revised Consumer Price Index series. This new series was introduced in August 2007. This revised series provides information on the Consumer Price Index organized into twelve Divisions (formerly referred to as Main Groups) starting with a base of (100) in December 2006 i.e. December 2006 = 100.

The All Jamaica ' All Division' Consumer Price Index for the month of September 2007 was 108.9 this represented an increase of 1.6 per cent over the revised index of 107.2 for the month of August. In the month of July and August there were similar inflation rates of 1.0 per cent. For the calendar year to date September 2007, the rate of inflation stood at 8.9 per cent. The rate of inflation for the fiscal year to date was 6.2 per cent. A look at the regional indices showed increases for all three regions: Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area up by 1.9 per cent, Other Urban Centres up by 1.7 per cent and Rural Areas by 1.2 per cent. For the period under review, increases were recorded for all the Divisions during the month of September , with the exception of ' Health ' and ' Transport ' for which there were negligible movements. The index for the division ' Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages' increased by 1.8 per cent, ' Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco' moved up by 0.7 per cent, ' Clothing and Footwear ' up by 0.8 per cent, ' Housing, Water, Electricity Gas and Other Fuels ' up by 4.2 per cent, ' Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance' up by 1.0 per cent, ' Health' and 'Transport' both had negligible movement of 0.0 percent, ' Recreation and Culture' up by 1.3 per cent, ' Education' 5.7 percent, ' Restaurants and Accommodation Services' up by 0.6 per cent and the ' Miscellaneous Goods and Services' increased by 0.5 per cent.

The Revised Consumer Price Index Bulletin September 2007 and the CD for January to June 2007 further outlines additional Information and may be obtained from the distribution office of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica 7 Cecelio Avenue Kingston 10.