July16, 2008

The All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ Consumer Price Index for the month of June 2008 was 130.3, this represents a 2.0 per cent increase over the index of 127.8 recorded for the previous month. In May and April the inflation rates were 2.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively. For the calendar year to date the rate of inflation was 11.5 per cent. This movement was 6.4 percentage points above the 5.1 per cent that was recorded for the corresponding period in 2007. The rate of inflation for the fiscal year to date was 6.0 per cent. Point-to-point inflation of 24.0 per cent was recorded for the period June 2007 to June 2008.

A look at the regional indices showed increases for all three regions ‘Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area’ up by 2.5 per cent, ‘Other Urban Centres’ up by 1.9 per cent and ‘Rural Areas’ by 1.6 per cent.

Increases were recorded for all the divisions during the month of June 2008, with the exception of ‘Communication’ and ‘Education’ for which there were negligible movements.

The index for ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ increased by 2.1 per cent, ‘Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco’ moved up by 2.6 per cent, ‘Clothing and Footwear’ up by 1.0 per cent, ‘Housing, Water Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ 2.8 per cent ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance’ up by 1.2 per cent, ‘Health’ up by 0.6 per cent, ‘Transport’ up by 2.9 per cent ‘Recreation and Culture’ up by 2.6 per cent, ‘Restaurant and Accommodation Services’ up by 1.2 per cent and ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ increased by 1.4 per cent.

The Revised Consumer Price index Bulletin June 2008 further outlines additional information and may be obtained from the Distribution office of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica 7 Cecelio Avenue, Kingston 10. Data is also available on the STATIN website at www.statinja.com