The Consumer Price Index or CPI in April 2021 increased by 1.1% year-on-year compared to April 2020. The CPI increase was largely attributed to increases in the prices and costs of Transport, Communication and Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages. However, this was moderated by the decrease in prices and costs of Clothing and Footwear; Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance; and Miscellaneous Goods and Services.
The Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Economy in a press release stated that prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 1.5%. Meanwhile, Non-Food prices increased by 1%. The increase in prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages was due to the hike in food prices such as beef and buffalo; cooking oil; and vegetables. The increase in the prices of meat and vegetables was, among others, due to increase in cost of import, supply chain disruption following the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in the region, as well as uncertain weather conditions.
The increase in prices of Transport was largely attributed to the rise in prices of motor cars followed by air tickets. The rising cost of Communication was due to, among others, telephone and telefax equipment, such as new handphones being introduced in the market.
On a month-on-month basis, the CPI in April 2021 decreased by 0.5% compared to March 2021. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index decreased by 0.9% while the Non-Food Index decreased by 0.4%. The CPI full report for April 2021 is available from JEPS website at, www.deps.gov.bn.
Source: Radio Television Brunei