In October the Retail Price Index went up by 0.24% to 108.52 from 108.26 in September. The National Statistics figures released today show that contributions to this growth were 7.53 per cent in Clothing and Footwear, mainly due to seasonally higher prices of garments, and 1.05 per cent in Recreation and Culture on account of higher tuition fees.

Other increases were recorded in Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost (0.97 per cent) due to price rises in respect of some furniture items; Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels (0.51 per cent) on account of higher gas prices; Housing (0.24 per cent) due to an upward move in the prices of services undertaken for maintaining and repairing dwellings; Personal Care and Health (0.15 per cent) on account of more expensive toiletries; and Beverages and Tobacco (0.10 per cent) due to costlier wines.

Declines in the Index occurred in Transport and Communication (-1.09 per cent) as a result of lower fuel prices and airfares; Food (-0.61 per cent) brought about by a drop in the price of vegetables (marrows) and fish (dorado); and Other Goods and Services (-0.22 per cent) resulting from lower prices for gold.

In the month under review, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 1.76 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 0.01 per cent.

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