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Brunei: Consumer Price Index fell by 0.2 per cent in February 2019
THE Consumer Price Index (CPI) in February 2019 decreased by 0.2 per cent year-on-year compared to February last year. Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased by 0.9 per cent. Meanwhile, non-food prices increased by 0.03 per cent.
The CPI decrease was largely attributed to decreases in the prices and costs of food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.9 per cent); housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.7 per cent); and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (0.7 per cent).
However, this was moderated by increases in prices and costs of health (2.6 per cent); recreation and culture (1.6 per cent); and restaurants and hotels (0.3 per cent).
Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased following the decrease in prices of vegetables, milk, eggs, as well as chicken and lamb. Meanwhile, the decrease in the price and cost of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was due to low rental prices and materials for the maintenance and repair of dwellings.
The decline in furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance was attributed to the reduced prices of furniture and household appliances.
On a month-on-month basis, the CPI in February 2019 increased by 0.2 per cent compared to January 2019. The non-food Index increased by 0.3 per cent while the food and non-alcoholic beverages Index decreased by 0.1 per cent.
The CPI is a measure of price changes of goods and services paid by the consumer in a specified period and compiled on a monthly basis. The list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household from the Household Expenditure Survey (HES).
The CPI full report for February 2019 is available from JPKE’s website:www.depd.gov.bn.
Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/consumer-price-index-fell-by-0-2-per-cent-in-february-2019/