Consumer Price Index - April 2008

Press Release No. 18, 2008

Date: 30 April 2008

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 1990/1991.

The All Item Consumer Price Index [CPI] for the month of April, 2008 registered an increase of 0.6 percent over February 2008 [157.2] and now stands at 158.1.

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 April 2008 [i.e. comparing the average CPI for the 12 months to April 2008 with the average for the 12 months to April 2007] stands at 5.9 percent while the month – on-comparable - month inflation rate [compared with April 2007] stands at 7.6 percent.

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

  • Food: +1.0%

    • Higher prices were recorded for bakery and wheat products, cereal, fresh and preserved fruits, fruit juice, dairy products, tea, coffee, ovaltine, cocoa, spices, top dressings, confectionery and market items such as bora beans, Chinese cabbages, small white chillies, cucumber, tomatoes, eggplant, rourou, bele, okra, tubua, garlic, dalo, cassava, pumpkin, peas, arhar and mixed vegetables.

  • Alcoholic Drinks & Tobacco: -0.2%

    • Marginal price decreases were recorded for a certain brand of alcoholic spirit and warm beer.

  • Housing: +0.1%

    • A marginal price increase was recorded for a certain house repair item.

  • Heating & Lighting: +0.6%

    • A marginal price increase was recorded for household kerosene.

  • Durable Household Goods: +0.3%

    • Marginal price increases were recorded for furniture, electrical and non-electrical appliances, crockery, duty free goods and travel and sports goods.

  • Clothing & Footwear: -0.2%

    • Marginal price decreases were recorded for men’s and children's wear, fabric material and men’s and women’s footwear.

  • Transport: +0.5%

    • Marginal price increases were recorded for some brand of motor cars, petrol, diesel and new tyres.

  • Services: 0.0%

    • No change was recorded in this section.

  • Miscellaneous: +0.7%

    • Marginal price increases were recorded for stationery, medical goods, toiletries, laundry goods and other household items.



    If you want more detailed information on the Consumer Price Index - April 2008, please contact the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics at:

    P.O.Box 2221
    Government Buildings
    Suva, FIJI
    Tel: (679) 331 5822 Ext.122
    Fax: (679) 330 3656

    OR

    email: info@statsfiji.gov.fj

    OR

    Contact Mr.Josevata Ranuku on 3315822 ext 122.

     Consumer Price Index for May, 2008 will be released on 29th May, 2008.