The consumer price index (CPI) decreased by 0.8 per cent during the first eight months of the year compared with the same period of 2010, said Bahrain’s Central Informatics Organisation.

The CPI decreased by 0.2 per cent in August compared with same month of 2010, while it has increased by 1.3 per cent in August compared with the record for the month of July.

Falls in the cost of housing, water, electricity and gas contributed to the decline in the CPI during the period, which fell by 10.8 per cent, with rents down by 13.7 per cent.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.9 per cent.

Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and candy prices rose by 4.7 per cent, and fruit and nuts by 5.4 per cent.

Tobacco and alcoholic beverage prices rose by 3.9 per cent in the first eight months while transport prices grew by 1.7 per cent, due to an increase in car prices by 4.4 per cent.

The CPI and the inflation rate follow a precise methodology based on a basket of goods and services. – TradeArabia News Service