BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's consumer price index (CPI) in March increased slightly by less than 0.05 percent over February, owing to higher prices of transportation, according to the latest statistics released on Sunday.
In its monthly CPI report, the Department of Economic Planning and Development at the Prime Minister's Office said food and non-alcoholic beverages index decreased by 0.3 percent while non-food index increased by 0.1 percent in March 2017.
The increase in the overall CPI in March 2017 was largely attributed to transport (1.7 percent); miscellaneous goods and services (less than 0.05 percent) followed by restaurants and hotels (less than 0.05 percent). These were mainly due to higher prices of passenger transport by air, other appliances articles and products for personal care as well as accommodation services.
Indexes that experienced decreases were recreation and culture (1.3 percent); food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.3 percent); furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance (0.5 percent); and clothing and footwear (1.0 percent.)
The department said on a year-on-year basis, the CPI for March 2017 has declined by 0.9 percent compared to March 2016. Both food and non-alcoholic beverages and non food index dropped by 1.2 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
Brunei's list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household.
