The consumer price index increased by around 0.4% in December 2017, compared to November 2017, mainly because of the 0.3% increase in food and beverage group prices, after a 4.2% increase in poultry prices and fresh fish by 2.1%, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Similarly, prices for clothing and footwear increased 1.3%. Thus, clothing prices rose by 1.4% and shoes by 1.1%
Price increases were also observed in car prices by 1.2% and in vehicle utilization costs by 0.6%.
In addition, the furniture, household goods and home maintenance group rose 0.5%, as home appliance prices grew 0.6% and glassware, tableware and utensils prices increased 0.9%.
Year-on-year, consumer prices increased by 6.4% in December 2017 compared with (4.2% in 2016), (4.1% in 2015) and (4.8% in 2014), according to the base year 2010.
The inflation rate has seen successive increases ranging from 4.6% in January 2017 to 5.0% in April, followed by stability at 4.8% in May and June, then a substantial increase to 6.3% in November to a level of 6.4% in December 2017.
