In October 2012, the national year-on-year inflation remained unchanged at 7.1 percent, same as in September 2012. However, the cities and towns’ inflation rate rose by 0.3 of a percentage point, from 7.2 percent in September to 7.5 percent in October.

The urban villages’ inflation rate went down by 0.2 of a percentage point, from 7.0 percent in September to 6.8 percent in October. The rural villages’ inflation rate stood at 6.9 percent in October, up by 0.2 of a percentage point from the September 2012 rate of 6.7 percent.

The October national Consumer Price Index was 162.8, registering an increase of 0.5 percent on the September index of 162.1. The rural villages’ index went up from 164.2 to 165.3, recording an increase of 0.7 percent.

The cities and towns’ index rose by 0.5 percent, from 161.9 to 162.6 between the two months, while the urban villages’ index moved from 161.2 to 161.7 between September and October, recording an increase of 0.3 percent. Group indices were stable between September and October, recording movements of less than 1.0 percent except for the Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco & Narcotics group index which recorded an increase of 1.8 percent.

The Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco & Narcotics group index rose by 1.8 percent, from 206.9 to 210.7 between the two months. This was due to increases in the constituent section indices of Alcoholic Beverages (2.0 percent) and Tobacco (0.7 percent). The rise in the Alcoholic Beverages section index was largely due to a five (5) percent increase in alcohol levy which effected on the 1st October 2012.

The Restaurants & Hotels group index registered an increase of 0.8 percent from 199.3 in September to 201.0 in October. The increase was a result of the constituent section index of Restaurants, Café’s and the Like (0.9 percent).

The Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages index group moved from 181.7 to 182.8, registering an increase of 0.6 percent between September and October. The increase for the month under review was attributed to the general rise in food prices.

The All-Tradable inflation rate for October stood at 8.2 percent, up by 0.1 of a percentage point on the September rate of 8.1 percent. The Domestic Tradable inflation rate recorded an increase of 0.5 of a percentage point over the period, from 8.2 to 8.7 percent.

The Imported Tradable inflation rate went down by 0.2 of a percentage point, from 8.0 percent in September to 7.8 percent in October, while the Non-Tradable inflation rate registered a drop of 0.1 of a percentage point, from 4.4 percent in September to 4.3 percent in October. The All-Tradable index recorded an increase of 0.6 percent, from 168.9 in September to 169.9 in October.
The Domestic Tradable index rose by 0.9 percent, from 179.9 in September to 181.6 in October. The Imported Tradable index went up by 0.4 percent, from 163.4 to 164.0 within the same period, whereas the Non-Tradable index recorded an increase of 0.2 percent, from 146.1 in September to 146.3 in October.