NEWS RELEASE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
December 2007

January 22, 2007

The Consumer Price Index Bulletin for December 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 in twelve Divisions (formerly referred to as Main Groups) starting with a base of (100) in December 2006. i.e. December 2006 = 1000. The All Jamaica ' All Divisions' Consumer Price Index was 116.8 for the month of December 2007. This is equivalent to an increase of 2.5 per cent over the index of 114.0 recorded for the month of November. The rate of inflation for November was 3.2 per cent, while for October there was an upward movement of 1.4 percent. For the calendar year- to- date, inflation stood at 16.8 per cent. For the fiscal year to date the inflation rate was 14.0 per cent.

A look at the regional indices showed increases for all three regions ' Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area' up by 2.6 per cent, ' Other Urban Centres' up by 2.1 per cent and ' Rural Areas' by 2.5 per cent. There were increases in the index over the previous month for all the divisions except ' Communication s' for which there was no movement. The index for the ' Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages' increased by 3.5 per cent, ' Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco' moved up by 1.5 per cent, ' Clothing and Footwear' up by 4.2 per cent, ' Housing, Water Electricity , Gas and Other Fuels' up by 3.3 per cent ' Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance ' up by 2.1 per cent, ' Health ' up by 0.5 per cent, ' Transport up by 1.7 per cent ' Recreation and Culture' up by 0.5 per cent, ' Education ' up by 0.2 per cent ' Restaurant and Accommodation Services' up by 1.9 percent and ' Miscellaneous Goods and Services' increased by 0.9 per cent.

The Revised Consumer Price index Bulletin December 2007 and 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.