Consumer Price Index – September 2021

According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) the consumer price index for September 2021 was 114.9 resulting in an inflation rate of 2.3% when compared to the previous month’s inflation rate of 0.9%. According to STAIN, this movement was primarily due to the 3.0% increase in the index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division. It was noted that, “the index for the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ rose by 9.9% as the costs for agricultural produce such as tomato, cabbage, sweet pepper and carrot continued to trend upwards. The index for the ‘Transport’ division rose by 8.1% due to the increase of approximately 15.0% in bus, route taxi and hackney carriage fares granted by the government.” Furthermore, “the index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division moved upwards by 0.8% due to a higher electricity and water and sewage rates.”

The index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ division increased by 3.0% for September 2021 mainly due to the 3.1% rise in the index for the group ‘Food’. The index for the class ‘Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses’ rose by 9.9% influenced mainly by higher prices for agricultural produce such as tomato, cabbage, carrot and sweet pepper. Other classes registering notable increases were: ‘Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals’ (0.9%), ‘Fruits and nuts’ (4.3%) and ‘Cereals and cereal products’ (0.6%). The index for the ‘Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ group increased by 0.6%.

The ‘Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics’ division grew by 0.3% for September 2021, resulting from the 0.4% increase in the index for the group ‘Alcoholic Beverages’ attributable to higher prices for spirits, wines and beers. While the division for ‘Clothing and Footwear’ observed an increase of 0.4% in its index for September 2021. In the index, the group ‘Clothing’ and ‘Footwear’ rose by 0.3% and 0.5% respectively.

The index for the ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ division rose by 0.8% influenced by higher rates for electricity, water and sewage. The primary contribution to the increase is due a 1.9% increase in the index for the group ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ and a 1.4% increase in ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Relating to the Dwelling’.  There was also an increase in the index for the ‘Maintenance, Repair and Security of the Dwelling’ group which moved up by 1.4%.

Inflation of 0.4% was recorded for the division ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ primarily due to the 0.4% increase in the index for the group ‘Goods and Services for Routine Household Maintenance’ and a 0.8% increase in the group for ‘Furniture, Furnishings and Loose Carpets’.

The division for ‘Health’ recorded an increase of 0.3% in its index for September 2021. The main contributing factor to this upward movement was the 0.3% increase in the group ‘Medicines and Health Products’.  ‘Outpatient Care Services’ recorded a 0.5% uptick.

The index for the ‘Transport’ division increased by 8.1% which was influenced by a 12.7% increase in the group ‘Passenger Transport Services’. It was noted, “this was influenced by the 15.0% increase in bus, route taxi, and hackney carriage fares granted by the government.” However, the increase was offset by lower petrol prices for personal transport equipment.

The ‘Recreation, Sport and Culture’ division registered a 1.1% rise for the period under review. Resulting from an upward movement in prices for schoolbooks and stationery. The ‘Education’ index rose by 2.4% for September 2021, due to an increase in tuition fees for private schools at the pre-primary and primary education level for the new school year.

The ‘Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ division index increased by 0.4% for the review period. Increased cost for some personal care products and services contributed largely to this movement.

The movement in the index for calendar year-to-date was 6.6% and the point- to-point was 8.2% as at September 2021. The Greater Kingston Metropolitan reported inflation of 2.0%, while the Rural Areas and Other Urban Centres reported inflation of 2.5% and 2.3% respectively.

Individual divisions saw the following changes:

1. Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (3.0%)
2. Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco and Narcotics: (0.3%)
3. Clothing and Footwear: (0.4%)
4. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels: (0.8%)
5. Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance: (0.4%)
6. Health: (0.3%)
7. Transport: (8.1%)
8. Information and Communication: (0.0%)
9. Recreation, Sport and Culture: (1.1%)
10. Education: (2.4%)
11. Restaurants and Accommodation Services: (0.0%)
12. Insurance and Financial Services (0.0%)
13. Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services: (0.4%)

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