The inflation rate slightly dropped to 7.4% in September 2018 from 7.5% in the months of July and August 2018, according to the latest statistics from the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Despite the rise in prices of several products, this slight decrease is mainly due to the slowdown in the rate of increase in food group prices between August and September of this year, compared with last year (0.2% against 1.2%).
Indeed the food prices went up 5.8% on one year against 7% the previous month. This is largely due to the 11% increase in fruit prices, 12.3% rise in meat and 9% in milk, cheese and egg derivatives.
Transportation group prices continue to grow at a rate of 13.3% due to higher vehicle prices by 16.1%, vehicle utilization expenses by 13.6% and transportation services by 8.7%.
The housing, water, gas, electricity and other fuels group saw their prices rise by 6.1% year-on-year, due to a 5.2% increase in rents, 15.4% rise in housing maintenance prices 5.4% increase in electricity and gas rates.
Core inflation rate (which concerns all products excluding food, drinks and energy), it stood at 7.9%.
As for the consumer price index, it rose 0.5% in one month (September) and 7.4% year on year (2018).
This increase is explained by the 1.2% rise in prices of transportation products and services as a result of the fuel price increase and the rise in the prices of goods and services in the education group, with a rate of 4.9%
