The September 2012, national year-on-year inflation rate was at 7.1 percent, up by 0.5 of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in August 2012. The cities and towns’ inflation rate grew by 0.8 of a percentage point from 6.4 percent in August to 7.2 percent in September.

The urban villages’ inflation rate increased by 0.1 of a percentage point from 6.9 to 7.0 percent, the rural villages’ inflation rate also registered an increase of 0.1 of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in August to 6.7 percent in September.

The September national Consumer Price Index was at 162.1, registering an increase of 0.8 percent on the August index of 160.8. The cities and towns’ index moved from 160.0 to 161.9 between August and September 2012, up by 1.1 percent. The urban villages’ index went up by 0.6 percent, from 160.2 to 161.2 between the two months, while the rural villages’ index rose from 163.6 to 164.2, recording an increase of 0.4 percent.

Three group indices recorded changes of at least 1.0 percent between August and September – Transport (2.6 percent), Restaurants & Hotels (1.6 percent) and Clothing & Footwear (1.1 percent).

The Transport group index registered an increase of 2.6 percent, from 159.9 in August to 164.2 in September. This was due to a rise in the constituent section index of Operation of Personal Transport, which went up by 4.4 percent. The increase in Operation of Personal Transport section index was attributed to the rise in retail pump prices for petrol and diesel by P0.50 per litre each, which effected on 17th September 2012.

The Restaurants & Hotels group index rose by 1.6 percent from 196.1 to 199.3 between the two months. This is owing to an increase in the constituent section indices of Restaurants, Cafes and the Like (1.7 percent) and Accommodation Services (0.6 percent).

The Clothing and Footwear index group moved from 144.0 to 145.5, registering an increase of 1.1 percent between August and September. The increase was attributed to the general rise in the constituent section indices, notably, Clothing (1.2 Percent), Footwear (1.1 Percent), Cleaning, Repair & Hire (0.8 Percent) and Other articles of Clothing (0.7 Percent).

The Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages index group moved from 181.0 to 181.7, registering an increase of 0.3 percent between August and September. The increase was attributed to the general rise in the constituent section indices.

The All-Tradable inflation rate for September stood at 8.1 percent, up by 0.8 of a percentage point on the August rate of 7.3 percent. The Imported Tradable inflation rate registered an increase of 1.3 percentage points, from 6.7 to 8.0 percent; Non-Tradable inflation rate was 4.4 percent in September, down by 0.4 of a percentage point on the August rate of 4.8 percent, while the Domestic Tradable inflation rate stood at 8.2 percent, same as in August.

The All-Tradable index went up by 1.0 percent, from 167.2 in August to 168.9 in September. The Imported Tradable index rose by 1.4 percent, from 161.1 to 163.4 in the two months. The Domestic Tradable index in September was at 179.9, up by 0.4 percent on the August level of 179.3. The Non- Tradable index recorded an increase of 0.3 percent, from 145.7 in August to 146.1 in September.

The Trimmed Mean Core Inflation rate stood at 6.5 percent in September, an increase of 0.2 of a percentage point from 6.3 percent of the previous month. The Core Inflation rate by exclusion went down by 0.1 of a percentage point from 6.6 to 6.5 percent between August and September 2012.