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Brunei: Consumer price index for March

CONSUMER Price Index (CPI) in March 2017 increased slightly by less than 0.05 per cent over February 2017. Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index decreased by 0.3 per cent while Non-Food Index increased by 0.1 per cent.

According to a press release, the slight increase in the overall CPI in February 2017 was largely contributed by Transport (1.7 per cent); Miscellaneous Goods & Services (less than 0.05 per cent) followed by Restaurants & Hotels (less than 0.05 per cent). These were mainly due to higher prices of passenger transport by air; other appliances articles and products for personal care as well as accommodation services.

Indexes that experienced decreases were Recreation & Culture (1.3 per cent); Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages (0.3 per cent); Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Maintenance (0.5 per cent); and Clothing and Footwear (1.0 per cent.)

Meanwhile, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas & Other Fuels and Education Index remained unchanged.

On a year-on-year basis, the CPI for March 2017 has declined by 0.9 per cent compared to March 2016. Both Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Non Food Index decreased by 1.2 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively.

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. The CPI full report for March 2017 is available from JPKE’s website: www.depd.gov.bn.

Source: http://borneobulletin.com.bn/consumer-price-index-march/