The Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded 188.4 in May, with an increase of 3.2% compared to April, which is the highest since July 2014, reported the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) on Thursday.
CPI measures the changes in the purchasing power of currency and the rate of inflation
CAPMAS attributed the increase to the high prices of grain and rice by 8.4%, meat and poultry by 3.8%, vegetables by 3.8%, fruits by 5.2%, takeaway by 4.0%, and healthcare by 15.1%.
CAPMAS said the annual inflation rate rose in May to 12.9% compared to May 2015.
Food and beverage prices registered an increase of 3.9%, which represents 2.06% of CPI.
Furniture and home supply products registered an increase of 0.9%, which represents 0.03% of CPI.
“Healthcare products increased by 15.1%, which represents a 0.84% of CPI due to the price increase of pharmaceutical products by 22.8%,” according to CAPMAS.
The statement added that transportation and communications increased by 1.3%, which represents a 0.05% of CPI due to the increase in car prices by 9%.
Restaurant and hotel prices increased by 23%, which represents a 1.02% of CPI due to the rise in takeaway meal prices by 23.2% and hotels services by 7.5%.
