August CPI Rises 0.5%

THE National Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5 percent to 106.6 in August 2021.

The latest CPI bulletin was released by the National Statistics Office on Wednesday 13^th October 2021.

National Statistician Douglas Kimi said through the year, compared to the same month in 2020, the National CPI also rose 0.5 percent.

He said the most significant changes by major expenditure groups from the previous month include:

• Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages: (-0.6%)
• Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics: (+1.4)
• Clothing & Footwear: (-0.9%)
• Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: (+1.1%)
• Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance: (+1.1%)
• Transport: (+1.4%)
• Recreation & Culture: (-1.3%)
• Miscellaneous goods & services: (-0.2%)

Mr Kimi said the Solomon Islands inflation rate for the month of August 2021 calculated on a 3-months moving average basis was +0.4%”, Mr Kimi said.

“The corresponding inflation rates for imported items was -0.5%, while other (domestic) items inflation rate was +0.7%.

“The Solomon Islands underlying rates of inflation based on a 3-months moving average was observed between -1.4% and -0.4% for August 2021.”

The headline inflation rates for the respective provincial towns calculated on a 3-months moving average basis were: Honiara: (+0.9%); Auki: (-0.2%); Gizo: (+3.7%); and Noro: (-5.8%).