Slight Increase In October's CPI
By Azrol Azmi

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for October this year rose 0.4 per cent compared to that of the same month in 2005 due to a rise in the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport and medical and health.

This was revealed by the Department of Statistics, Department of Economic Planning and Development, Prime Minister's Office yesterday. Although the CPI for October this year increased, in comparison to the previous month, the CPI fell by 0.3 per cent with an index of 102.0. The decrease was partly attributed to the Brunei Grand Sales from September 15 until October 29, 2006.

The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.1 per cent due to higher prices of fresh prawn and other seafood, canned fish, milk, eggs, vegetables and fruits, while an increase of 0.1 per cent in the cost of transport led by higher prices of certain air fares.

Also the cost of medical and health increased by 0.1 per cent as a result of higher prices of proprietary medicines and supplies.

However, lower prices of ready-made clothing and accessories, materials for male and female and footwear led to a 3.4 per cent decrease in the cost of clothing and footwear. The cost of household goods, services and operation dropped by 0.2 per cent due to cheaper prices of floor covering, household furnishings, kitchen appliances and utensils, crockery - and cutlery and household operation.

Communication cost also declined by 0.1 per cent dice to cheaper prices of instruments including accessories, while the cost of recreation and entertainment went down by 0.9 per cent due to lower prices of holiday packages.

While lower prices of personal care and personal effects and other personal goods led to lower costs of miscellaneous goods and services by 0.7 per cent.

Meanwhile the cost of housing, water, electricity and maintenance and education remained the same as in the previous month.

The CPI is a summary indicator designed to measure changes over time in the general level of prices of goods and services in the fixed basket of goods that a reference population pays for.

The CPI is solely a measure of prices changes and not a measure of changes in general cost of living since it does not take into account the factors such as changes in life-style, increase of household incomes and the availability of new consumption goods and services. Thus the index only reflects the price changes. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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