Slower rise in living Cost
By Shareen Han

Bandar Seri Begawan - Prices of goods in the sultanate stood at 0.2 per cent last year as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), according to the Department of Economic Planning and Development's report.

Last year's inflation rate, which is measured based on the annual growth of the CPI at the end of the period, was slower than the 1.1 per cent recorded in the previous year.

The cost of an overseas vacation was more expensive after the category of recreation and entertainment showed higher price with an increase of 6.2 per cent.

Prices of miscellaneous products and services have also gone up by 2.5 per cent, especially increasing prices in cigarettes and ladies' personal effects.

Due to higher prices of fresh and frozen meat, fish and seafood, dairy. Products as well as other foodstuff, the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages has increased by 0.3 per cent.

Medical and dental treatment costs have also seen an increase by 0.1 per cent.

However, there were declining prices in other cases, including discounts in selected mobile phones and accessories, as well as postal charges, which led to lower costs of communication by 1.7 per cent.

Meanwhile ready-made clothing and wedding dresses have all contributed to falling prices of clothing and footwear costs by 1.5 per cent.

The report also stated that transport costs have dropped by 1.3 per cent due to lower costs of motor vehicles in the country.

Household goods, accommodation and education costs also fell 1.2 per cent, 1.1 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively.

According to the Asean Secretariat's website, neighbouring countries in the Southeast Asian region have reported higher inflation rates compared with Brunei Darussalam in 2005.

Malaysia's inflation rate was recorded at 3.1 per cent, while it stood at 10.5 per cent in Indonesia.

However, Singapore had an inflation rate of 0.4 per cent, the lowest in the Asean region. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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