P9-CPI_05042023

Brunei: CPI increases by 0.5 per cent in February

In February 2023, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.5 per cent month-on-month as compared to January 2023, contributed by the increases in both the food and non-alcoholic beverages prices and the non-food prices, said the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economy recently.

The month-on-month increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages prices was contributed by vegetables by 5.9 per cent; rice and cereals by 0.4 per cent; and milk, dairy products and eggs by 0.3 by per cent. The rise in vegetable prices was due to the increase in the cost of shallots from producing countries.

Moreover, the increase in the non-food prices was contributed by clothing and footwear by 9.7 per cent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 1.3 per cent; and recreation and culture by 0.7 per cent.

For year-on-year changes, the CPI increased by 1.2 per cent as compared to February 2022.

The rise was driven by the increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages; and non-food prices by 4.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively.

The year-on-year increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages prices was due to the rise in meat by 7.6 per cent; rice and cereals by 6.9 per cent; and milk, dairy products and eggs by 5.4 per cent. The increase in rice and cereals prices was mainly due to the rise in raw material prices for cakes, pastries and biscuits.

The increase in non-food prices was driven by the rise in prices of restaurants and hotels by 4.2 per cent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 1.3 per cent; and miscellaneous goods and services by 1.3 per cent.

Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/cpi-increases-by-0-5-per-cent-in-february/