Mauritius saw a rise in prices with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which stood at 105.3 in December 2013, registering a net increase of 2.3% to reach 107.7 in March 2014, on the back of higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
On a monthly basis, the CPI increased by 1.9 points in January and 1.3 points in February, and then decreased by 0.8 point in March.
Also, compared to March 2013, an increase of 4.6% was seen in the CPI to 107.7 in March 2014 from 103.1 in the corresponding period last year.
The main reasons for the net increase in the CPI from December 2013 to March 2014 were food and non- alcoholic beverages, which showed a major increase of 5.7%.
The increase of 5.7% was mainly the result of an increase in vegetables of 31.6%, trader`s rice by 5.8 % and milk by 2.8 %.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco also saw an increase of 0.3 %. The upward movement was due to higher prices of rum and other cane spirits.
Among others, clothing and footwear increased by 1.1%; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 1.0%; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance went up 0.8%; health up 2.7%; transport up 0.9%; recreation and culture up 0.7%, education up 1.4%, restaurants and hotels up 1.6%; miscellaneous goods and services up 2.3%.
On the other hand, products which saw a decline in prices over the period are communication 0.1%; under the food and non-alcoholic beverage category too, a lower price of fruits of 8.4% was registered as well as 1.2% in the price of meat.
In addition, the headline inflation rate for the twelve months ending March 2014 works out to 4.0% compared to 3.6% for the twelve months ending March 2013.
Finally, the headline inflation rate excluding ‘Alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ for the twelve months ending March 2014 works out to 3.1% compared to 2.5% for the twelve months ending March 2013.
Image (Restaurant.mu): The main reasons for the net increase in the CPI from December 2013 to March 2014 were food and non-alcoholic beverages, which showed a major increase of 5.7%.
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