The inflation rate reached 5.7% in August against 5.6% registered the previous month, the National Institute of Statistics (NSI) announced Thursday.
Inflation this year has seen successive increases ranging from 4.6% in January 2017 to 5% in April, followed by a stability of 4.8% and then a significant increase to 5.6% during the month of July 2017.
This slight increase, explained the NSI, is mainly due to the acceleration in the rate of increase of food prices year-on-year (5.2% this month against 3.6% in July 2017), mainly the rise of meat prices (4.7% vs. 1.8%) and vegetables (6.2% vs. 2.8%).
On the other hand, the inflation rate recorded in August 2017 is the result of rising food and beverage prices by 5.2%.
This increase was mainly due to higher prices for edible oils by 17.5%, fish by 6.3%, meat by 4.7% and milk, cheeses and eggs by 2.7%.
Prices for beverages went up 6% as a result of higher prices for mineral water, soft drinks and fruit juices by 7.1% and prices for coffee and tea by 3.5%.
Prices for clothing and footwear have increased by 8.8% year-on-year, as a result of higher prices for footwear by 7.7%, clothing by 9.3% and fabrics by 4.2%.
The housing, water, gas, electricity and other fuels group grew by 4% year-on-year, as a result of rent increases by 4.5% and electricity and gas tariffs by 2.9%. Furniture, household goods and household maintenance prices also rose 5.1%.
Prices for the healthcare group increased by 3.7%, as a result of the rise in drug prices of 2.2% and private ambulatory services prices by 6.5%.
Price increases were also observed in the transport group’s tariffs by 8.2%, as a result of the increase in vehicle prices by 16.7%, vehicle use expenses by 6.1% and transport services by 1. 9%.
Similarly, communication group prices rose by 2.8% year-on-year, as a result of an increase by 33.5% in postal services and 9.7% in telephony equipment and telephony services and Internet prices by 1.3%.
Prices for food services and hotels continued to grow at a rate of 7.3% as restaurant and cafe services prices rose by 7.7% and accommodation services by 4.5%.
Prices for other goods and services were up 4.9% as a result of personal care price increases by 5.8% and personal effects by 7.6%.
The INS would like to point out that the core inflation rate excluding food and beverages and non-energy is 6%.
Prices for free (unregulated) products increased by 6.2% over one year, particularly free food products, up 6.1% compared to 1% for regulated products.
