Consumer Price index rises 3 percent in February
The National Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.7 percent to 110.6 in February 2021.
Releasing the report last week, National Statistician Douglas Kimi said through the year, compared to the same month in 2020, the National CPI dropped 1.9 percent.
He said the most significant changes by major expenditure groups from the previous month include:
- Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (+1.6%)
- Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics: (+17.5%)
- Clothing & Footwear: (+1.9%)
- Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: (-0.2%)
- Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance: (-0.9%),
- Health: (-2.1%)
- Transport: (+1.1%)
- Recreation and Culture: (-0.9%)
- Miscellaneous Goods & Services: (-1.0%)
Mr Kimi said the Solomon Islands inflation rate for the month of February 2021 calculated on a 3 months moving average basis was -3.2 percent.
“The corresponding inflation rates for imported items was -7.6 percent while other (domestic) items inflation rate was -1.2 percent.”
“The Solomon Islands underlying rates of inflation based on a 3 months moving average was observed between -2.4 percent and -1.2 percent for February 2021.
The National Statistician concluded the headline inflation rates for the respective provincial towns calculated on a 3 months moving average basis were: Honiara: (-3.6%); Auki: (+1.5%); Gizo: (+0.6%); and Noro: (-4.4%).
ENDS///