The overall consumer price index, commonly referred to as inflation, has exhibited a notable uptick of 2.68 percent during the preceding seven months of 2023, reaching a value of 108.60, up from the 105.77 registered for the corresponding period in the prior year. Released by the Department of Statistics (DoS) on Thursday, the monthly report divulged that various significant commodity categories have markedly influenced the general consumer price index surge until July 2023. Notably, the fuel and lighting category experienced a substantial increase of 12.46 percent, followed by culture and entertainment at 8.02 percent, dairy, and egg products at 7.68 percent, furniture, carpets, and beddings at 7.25 percent, and health at 4.79 percent. In a more recent development, the report delineated that the general consumer price index observed a 0.92 percent escalation during the month of July in the current year, compared to the analogous month of the previous year. Consequently, the index settled at 108.91, marking an increase from the 107.92 recorded for the same timeframe in the year prior. Furthermore, the report expounded on the principal contributors to the observed inflation increase for July in the current year vis-a-vis the corresponding month in the previous year. Prominent amongst these contributors was the personal belongings category, which surged by 7.65 percent. This was closely followed by tobacco and cigarettes at 5.18 percent, dairy and egg Products at 3.63 percent, personal care at 3.29 percent, and subscriptions at 3.25 percent. The report also highlighted a fractional 0.07 percent augmentation in the general index for the month of July 2023, reaching 108.91, in contrast to the 108.83 registered for June. Underlining the ongoing dynamics, the report underscored several noteworthy commodity categories that facilitated the elevation in the general consumer price index for the month of July, relative to the previous month. Notable examples included vegetables, legumes, and canned goods, which exhibited a rise of 5.02 percent, trailed by grains and their products at 0.21 percent, sugar and its products at 0.18 percent, dairy and egg products at 0.10 percent, and culture and entertainment at 0.10 percent.

Source: Jordan News Agency