Consumer Price Index, May 2009

Press Release No: 26

Date: 4 June 2009

The Consumer Price Index, which covers price changes in urban areas [Suva, Lami, Nausori, Lautoka, Nadi, Ba and Labasa], has weights derived from the Household, Income and Expenditure Survey of 2002/2003.

There have been two measures of inflation used in Fiji. One compares the average CPI over the past twelve months with the average CPI over the previous twelve months. The other, which is the one used in most countries, compares the CPI in the current month with the CPI in the comparable month of the previous year [ie. 12 months previously].

The average annual rate of inflation for the twelve months to May 2009 [ie. comparing the average CPI for the 12 months to May 2009 with the average for the 12 months to May 2008] stands at 5.4 percent while the month-on-comparable-month inflation rate [compared with May 2008] stands at 0.8 percent.

The All item Consumer Price Index [CPI] for the month of May 2009 registered an increase of 1.0 percent over April 2009 [114.4] and stands at 115.6.

The CPI basket is made up of 30% imported goods. The devaluation in April did not have impact on a lot of imported goods in the basket since many stores were still selling goods from imports made prior to the devluation.

Items that are deriving the sectional changes over the previous month are as follows:

Food: +0.3%
Higher prices were recorded for bakery and wheat products, cereals, fresh and preserved meat, fresh and preserved fruits, fruit juice, mineral water, dairy products, fats and oils, tea, coffee, milo, ovaltine and cocoa, spices, top dressings, confectionery, restaurant meals and market items such as english cabbage, cucumber, bele, pumpkin, onion, potato, garlic, split peas, blue peas and arhar.

Alcoholic Drinks and Tobacco: +0.8%
Higher prices were recorded for some alcoholic spirits and warm beer.

Housing: +0.3%
Higher prices were recorded for paints.

Heating and Lighting: -1.3%
Lower prices were recorded for household kerosene.

Durable Household Goods: +1.0%
Higher prices were recorded for non-electrical appliances, crockery, soft furnishings, duty free goods and jewellelry.

Clothing and Footwear: +0.5%
Higher prices were recorded for children's clothing and men's and children's footwear.

Transport: +1.0%
Higher prices were recorded for new and second-hand vehicles and spare parts.

Services: 0.0%%
No change was recorded in this section

Miscellaneous: +4.7%
Higher prices were recorded for stationery, medical goods, toiletries, laundry goods and other household items.

If you want more detailed information on the Consumer Price Index, for May 2009, please contact the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics at:

P.O.Box 2221
Government Buildings
Suva, FIJI
Tel: (679) 331 5822
Fax: (679) 330 3656

OR

On email: info@statsfiji.gov.fj

OR

contact Mr Peni Waqawai on Ph: 3315822 ext. 123.

The Consumer Price Index for June 2009 will be released on 30 June 2009.