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Introduction
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of august 2002 stood at
126.9, down from the 127.0 observed for the previous
month ( July 2002). One year earlier the index stood at 126.9.
Monthly Comparison
The subgroups responsible for the decline in the monthly
index were Food, Beverage & Tobacco which fell by 0.34 percent. This
was caused by the reduced prices of chicken legs, fruits and vegetables.
Furniture & Household
Supplies increased by 0.20 percent due to higher prices of detergents
and garbage bags. The other subgroups namely Housing ,Clothing &
Footwear, Transportation, Services and Miscellaneous all remained unchanged for
the period under review.
Annual Comparison
On an annual comparison two of the seven subgroups indicted
declines. Clothing & Footwear fell by 5.16 percent and Services by
1.91
percent .The other subgroups reflected the following increases: Food, Beverage & Tobacco
0.94 percent;
Housing 0.08 percent; Furniture & Household Supplies 0.40 percent; Transportation
4.84 percent and Miscellaneous 0.63 percent .
Rate of Inflation
The point-to-point monthly and annual
rate of inflation
stood at -0.08 and 0.00 percent respectively.
TABLE 1
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX: MONTHLY AND ANNUAL COMPARISONS
(MARCH 1995=100)
| SUBGROUPS |
Wt. |
Aug.
2002 |
July
2002 |
Monthly
Comp. |
Aug
2002 |
Annual
Comp. |
| Food, Beverage & Tobacco |
268 |
118.3 |
118.7 |
-0.34 |
117.2 |
0.94 |
| Housing |
195 |
131.3 |
131.3 |
0.00 |
131.2 |
0.08 |
| Furniture & Household Supplies |
118 |
148.8 |
148.5 |
0.20 |
148.20 |
0.40 |
| Clothing & Footwear |
151 |
115.7 |
115.7 |
0.00 |
122.0 |
-5.16 |
| Transportation |
117 |
138.7 |
138.7 |
0.00 |
132.3 |
4.84 |
| Services |
99 |
118.4 |
118.4 |
0.00 |
120.7 |
-1.91 |
| Miscellaneous |
52 |
127.7 |
127.7 |
0.00 |
126.9 |
0.63 |
| All Groups |
1000 |
126.9 |
127.0 |
-0.08 |
126.9 |
0.00 |
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