News Release
Consumer Price Index
May 2008

June16, 2008

The All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ Consumer Price Index for the month of May 2008 was 127.8, this represents a 2.4 per cent increase over the index for April 2008. This movement was a 0.9 percentage point increase over the 1.5 per cent that was recorded in April 2008. The calendar year to date inflation rate was 9.4 per cent. For the period May 2007 May 2008, the Point-to-point inflation rate was 22.5 per cent. The Fiscal year to date inflation was 3.9 per cent.

A look at the regional indices showed increases for all three regions ‘Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area’ up by 2.3 per cent, ‘Other Urban Centres’ up by 2.3 per cent and ‘Rural Areas’ by 2.5 per cent.

Increases were recorded for all the divisions during the month of April 2008, with the exception of ‘Communication’ and ‘Education’.

The index for the ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ increased by 2.6 per cent, ‘Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco’ moved up by 13.1 per cent, ‘Clothing and Footwear’ up by 0.9 per cent, ‘Housing, Water Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ 4.6 per cent ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Household Maintenance’ up by 0.5 per cent, ‘Health’ up by 1.5 per cent, ‘Transport’ up by 1.4 per cent ‘Recreation and Culture’ up by 0.9 per cent, ‘Restaurant and Accommodation Services’ up by 2.8 per cent and ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ increased by 1.5 per cent.

The consistent rise in the prices of oil, wheat and other grains on the international markets as well as increases in the taxes related to motor vehicles, drivers licenses, the special consumption tax on cigarettes were among the factors that contributed to the 2.4 per cent inflation rate for May 2008.

The Revised Consumer Price index Bulletin May 2008 further outlines additional information and may be obtained from the Distribution office of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica 7 Cecelio Avenue, Kingston 10. Data is also available on the STATIN website at www.statinja.com