Grand Sales Push Consumer Price Index Down
By Husin Ismail

Bandar Seri Begawan - The massive price reductions introduced during the Brunei Grand Sale in conjunction with the Hari Raya festivities have caused a slight overall decrease of 0.1 per cent in Brunei's Consumer Price Index.

According to monthly statistics released yesterday by the Department of Economic Planning and Development under the Prime Minister's Office, the nationwide, six-weeks sale fuelled a significant 4.2 per cent decline in clothing and footwear prices from mid-September to the end of October this year.

The event also saw a drop in costs of household goods, services and maintenance as well as communication, of 1.5 and 0.6 per cent respectively, due to a decrease in sale prices of fittings and furnishings, electrical appliances and instruments.

There was also a drop in the prices miscellaneous goods and services by 0.1 per cent on September. Despite the competitive sale prices of most goods, preparations for celebrations during the fasting month of Ramadan and the Hari Raya festivities itself sparked an overall 0.,1 per cent rise in food and beverage costs. The festive seasons during the fasting month of Ramadan and Hari Raya had affected the cost of food and non-beverages to increase by 0.1 per cent where there was a drastic demand for the celebration preparations.

Sin Kew Hin department store manager Linda said there was no major changes in the prices of items, "except for discounts given during the grand sale. After the sale, prices were normal again

This festive season also caused an increase of 2.8 per cent in the cost of recreation and Entertainment, which was mostly affected by the prices of holiday packages. Demand was high due to a week-long school holiday which started from midSeptember and the community shopped overseas.

A supervisor at Jasra Travel Agency said that the swell in demand for recreation and entertainment was expected because of the school holidays.

"There was also a large number of students leaving to commence or resume their studies abroad, especially to the United Kingdom," she said.

"There should be a bigger surge of customers in December," she added.

Medical and health costs rose by 0.1 per cent in September. Pharmacists in town told

The Brunei Times that sales of medicine did increase. This was probably due to the unstable weather conditions in September which also affected by the haze.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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