Statistics Botswana has officially released the Botswana Consumer Price Index for December 2012. The national inflation rate remained unchanged at 7.4 percent during the month of December 2012.
The National Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 164.9 during December 2012, registering an increase of 0.3 percent from the November 2012 index of 164.4. Contributing to the increase in the CPI were Transport (0.6 percent) and Clothing & Footwear (0.5 percent). Consumer prices slightly rose in every major component between November and December 2012 except Communication and Education.
“The rise in Transport group index was due to an increase in the constituent section index of Transport Services (4.9 percent). The increase in Transport Services section index was attributed to the rise in Minibus and Taxis Fares from P3.30 to P3.50 and P3.90 to P4.10, respectively, while long distance bus fare (bitumen road) increased from 20.41 thebe to 21.60 thebe per kilometer. These changes were effected on the 1st December 2012,” it says.