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Consumers' Price Index, Fourth Quarter of 2006

The consumers' price index reached 140.09 during the fourth quarter of 2006,compared with 135.06 during the third quarter of the same year i.e. a quarterly increase of 3.72%,(2001=100).

The consumer price index (average of four quarters) jumped from 119.23 in year 2005 to 133.23 in year 2006,giving an annual increase of 11.83%. By reviewing the major groups, it is not able that increase was found in all groups, the highest was in rents and fuels group with a rate of 6.64% followed by garments and footwear group with a rate of 6.07% Compared with the same quarter of the preceding year, it is notable that the increase covered all groups except furniture, textiles and home
appliances which witnessed a slight decrease of 0.13%as well as medical
care and medical services with a decrease of 0.72%.

As for the sub-groups, compared with the third quarter of the same year, there is a general increase except communications, dropping by 8.57%as well as recreation and sports activities by 7.59%.

Comparing sub-groups with their counterparts for the same period of the preceding year, a drop was noticed in the furniture and furnishing by 13.92%.As for the drop in the index of textiles and furnishings, it was due to the entrance of new commodities that is cheaper and inferior in quality. Also the appearance of up-to-date commodities causes reduction in the prices of the old ones. A big drop of 26.79%was noticed in the educational services, due to the competitive offers among educational centers covering educational courses.

The drop in the communications group was due to the offers given by the communications company through reducing tariffs on local and international calls as well as offers given in the field of internet services.

  Consumer price index for the fourth quarter of 2006 : click here