The Bahrain Consumer Price Index (CIO) fell by 0.8 per cent during the first nine months of 2011 compared with the same period of 2010.

But it increased by 0.4 per cent in September compared with same month of last year.

It rose by 0.5 per cent in September compared with the record for August.

Housing, water, electricity and gas were the highest group, contributing to the decline in consumer prices in the nine-month period, falling by 10.8 per cent while rents fell by 13.7 per cent.

Telecom service costs fell by 0.7 per cent as a result of lower prices and online services by 16 per cent.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.8 per cent.

The index of consumer prices and the inflation rate follows a precise methodology based on a basket of goods and services. – TradeArabia News Service