Tunisia’s inflation rate edged down to 7.1% in March 2019 against 7.3% the previous month.
This drop is mainly due to the slower pace of price increases for food group products (7.5% vs. 8.2% last month).
Lower food inflation
In March 2019, food prices rose by 7.5% year-on-year (8.2% in February 2019). This increase is explained by rising meat prices by 14.3%, cheese and eggs by 11.9% and vegetables by 10.2%. Excluding fresh produce, food prices rose 5.5% year-on-year.
Higher prices for transportation products and services
Over one year, the transport group’s prices increased by 9.7% due to the 9.9% growth in vehicle prices and the cost of using vehicles (spare parts and fuels) by 10.1% and transportation services by 8.6%.
The core inflation rate (excluding food and energy) stabilized at 6.9% in March 2019. Prices for free products (non-administered) increased by 8.0% compared to 4.4% for administered prices.
Free food products posted a growth of 8.6% against 2.4% for administered products.
In March 2019, consumer prices rose 0.4% after growing 0.1% the previous month. This increase is mainly due to higher prices for food, textile products and hotel and restaurant services.
Over one month, food prices rose by 0.5% as poultry prices went up 2.3%, eggs increased 2.2% and beef grew 1.8%.
In March, prices for clothing products rose 1.3%, compared to a 4.6% drop the month before. Thus, the prices of clothing items went up by 1.4% and shoes by 1.1%.
Prices for restaurant and hotel services rose 0.8% as restaurant and café service prices grew 0.5% and hotel service prices went up 3.9%.