Increases of 33% in the price of potatoes, 14% in the price of onions, and 7.8% in the price of avocados were some of the elements that put pressure on the soaring prices this January.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census, during the first month of 2018, university education, tourist packages, domestic service, electricity service, tickets and housing rental also went up in price.
In total, 61% of the 315 goods that make up the consumer basket with which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated increased in price. In contrast, the price of 31% of the goods (such as tomato, watermelon, sweet pepper, and fish fillets) decreased in price, and 8% were not accurate.
When analyzing the percentage changes in the prices of the twelve groups that make up the index, the group Food and Non-alcoholic beverages is the one that has the greatest effect on the variation of the general index,”
says an INEC report.
This year’s variation is lower than that of the first month of 2017, when it was 0.57%. Year-on-year, the increase in the general price level was 2.41%, still within the target range established by the Central Bank, around 3%.