Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi issued yesterday its periodic report on the consumer price index (CPI) and the inflation rate in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the month of January 2014. The report analyses the CPI calculations for the periods under review, detailed by household type, welfare level and geographical region, with the year 2007 fixed as the base year.
As SCAD's report reveals, consumer prices increased 2.1 in January 2014, compared with the same period in 2013, as shown by the rise in the CPI from 123.5 points in January 2013 to 126.0 points in January 2014. A month over month comparison, however, shows that the CPI increased 0.1 percent in January 2014 compared with December 2013.
The single largest rise was recorded in the prices of the "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" group, which accounted for 30.7 percent of consumer inflation during the period under review, reflecting increases in the prices of most subgroups within this group: the prices of "Vegetables" increased by 19.6 percent, "Fish and seafood" by 18.7 percent, "Food products n.e.c." by 5.5 percent, "Oils, and fats" by 3.8 percent and "Milk, cheese and eggs" by 2.0 percent.
The second largest contributor to the overall y-o-y increase in the CPI during January 2014 was the "Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels" group which accounted for 27.7 percent of the overall increase observed during January 2014 compared with the same period of 2013, the prices of this group increased by 1.5 percent.
The "Clothing and footwear" group accounted for 14.3 percent of the overall increase occurring during January 2014 compared with the same period of 2013. The prices of this group advanced by 3.8 percent.
The "Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" group, accounted for 4.4% of the increase.
Among the main groups that slowed down the rise in consumer prices during January 2014 compared with January 2013, was the "Recreation and culture" group, which detracted 2.0 percentage points from the overall rise as the group's prices dropped by 1.9 percent.
January 2014/December 2013 SCAD's report reveals a decrease of 0.1 percent in consumer prices in January 2014 compared with December 2013, reflecting the net outcome of the upward and downward changes in the basket prices between the two months compared.
The key rises in consumer prices between January 2014 and December 2013 were observed in the "Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" (up 0.7 percent) and "Miscellaneous goods and services" (up 0.4 percent).
CPI by household welfare level for January 2014 with January 2013 Detailed by household welfare level, the overall 2.1 percent rise in consumer prices in January 2014 compared with January 2013 implied an increase of 2.3 percent for households in the bottom welfare quintile, 1.9 percent for the top welfare quintile and 2.2 percent for households of the middle quintile.
CPI by household welfare level for January 2014 with December 2013 The overall 0.1 percent rise in consumer prices in January 2014 compared with December 2013 reflected as a proportionate increase of 0.1 percent for the bottom, top and middle household welfare levels.
CPI by household type for January 2014 with January 2013 The 2.1 percent rise in consumer prices in January 2014 compared with January 2013 reflected as an increase of 2.0 percent in consumer prices for citizen households, 2.1 percent for non-citizen households and 2.4 percent for share households.
CPI by household type for January 2014 with December 2013 The overall 0.1 percent increase in consumer prices in January 2014 compared with December 2013 implied a proportionate increase of 0.1 percent in consumer prices for non-citizen and share households.
Abu Dhabi inflation in January 2014 Average consumer prices edged up 0.1 percent in January 2014 compared with December 2013 as the CPI advanced from 126.1 points to 126.0 points over the aforesaid period.
The key price rises in January 2014 were observed in the "Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" (up 0.8 percent), "Transport" (up 0.1percent) and "Miscellaneous goods and services" (up 0.5percent).
Al Ain inflation in January 2014 Consumer prices increased by a slight 0.2 percent in January 2014 compared with December 2013 as the CPI rose from 126.1 points to 125.8 points over the same period.
Major groups that exhibited price increases in January 2014 were "Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" (up 6.1 percent) and "Hotel and restaurants" (up 0.6 percent).
Al Gharbia inflation in January 2014 Average consumer prices rose by 0.1 percent in January 2014 compared with December 2013 as the CPI rose from 124.5points to 124.4 points over the period referred to.
Of note was the increase by 0.6 percent in the prices of "Alcoholic beverages and tobacco" during January 2014.
Source: WAM