Inflation Rate Stands At 7.6%

The average annual rate of inflation for the twelve months to January 2009 compared to January last year stands at 7.6 percent.

According to the Bureau of Statistics, food prices recorded an increase of 6.6 percent. Higher prices were recorded for bakery and cereal, fresh and preserved meat, fresh fish, fresh and preserved fruits, fats and oils, coffee, tea, cocoa, market items such as long beans, cabbage, chillies, okra, local tomatoes, cucumber, rourou, bele, pumpkin, potatoes, cassava and yaqona.

Alcohol drinks and cigarettes recorded a 0.3 percent increase, clothing and footwear went up by 0.1 percent.

However there was a 2.2 percent decrease in the price for heating and lighting and 4.5 percent decrease recorded for unleaded fuel, diesel and spare parts.


Short Supply Due To Flood

The current increase in vegetable prices in the market is likely to stay for 3 months.

Fijivillage spoke to the Suva Market vendors who said the decrease in the supply of vegetables is due to the damage caused by the recent flooding to the farms in the Sigatoka Valley.