PCBS: Increase in the CPI during March 2019

Ramallah – Palestine Economy Portal

The overall Consumer Price Index in Palestine increased by %0.85 in March 2019 compared with February 2019; with Gaza increasing by 0.89%, the West Bank** increasing by 0.88%, and Jerusalem J1* increasing by 0.57%.

PCBS calculated that the main reason for the CPI increase in Palestine goes back to the increase of: tubers by 11.45%, fresh vegetables by 10.03%, fresh chicken by 6.52%, fresh fruits by 5.17%, liquid Fuel for Car "Petrol" by 3.57%, dried vegetables by 2.03%, despite the drop in prices of eggs by 3.49%.

The statistics show that Palestine’s CPI increase was by 1.42%; with 2.20% in the West Bank**, 0.79% in Jerusalem J1*, and 0.35% in the Gaza Strip.

The CPI at the level of the Palestinian territories

In Gaza, the CPI scored a 0.89% increase in March 2019 compared to February 2019. This increase occurred mainly because of the increase in the tubers’ prices by 19.92%, fresh vegetables by 13.10%, dried vegetables by 7.71%, imported cigarettes by 6.40%, “petrol” by 5.42%, fresh chicken by 3.25%, despite the drop in prices of eggs by 3.53%.

In the West Bank**, the CPI scored a 0.88% increase in March 2019 compared to February 2019. This increase occurred because of an increase in the chicken prices by 8.61%, tubers by 7.85%, fresh fruits by 6.78%, “petrol” by 3.53%, despite the drop in prices of eggs by 3.42% and dried vegetable prices by 2.63%.

In Jerusalem J1*, the CPI scored a 0.57% increase in March 2019 compared to February 2019. This increase occurred because of an increase in the prices of fresh vegetables by 25.29%, fresh fruits by 5.57%, “petrol” by 3.35%, tubers by 3.09%, despite the drop in prices of eggs by 4.04%, and fresh vegetables by 1.59.

 

Note:

The CPI base year has been updated to be 2018.

Reliance on the new version of the Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose COICOP – 2018 issued by the United Nation division (UN), to classify major groups, commodities' and services consumed.

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