CPI for general households eases to 2.8% in H1 2013

CPI for general households eases to 2.8% in H1 2013

POSTED: 23 Jul 2013 8:11 PM

Singapore's inflation moderated in the first half of 2013. The Department of Statistics (DOS) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for general households eased to 2.8 per cent from January to June 2013.

SINGAPORE: Singapore's inflation moderated in the first half of 2013. The Department of Statistics (DOS) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for general households eased to 2.8 per cent from January to June 2013.

That is less than the 4.1 per cent increase in the second half of 2012.

CPI excluding imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation (OOA) fell from 3.3 per cent in the second half of 2012 to 2.2 per cent in the first half of 2013.

DOS said the lower income group experienced a smaller increase in CPI compared to the middle and higher income groups. The increase in CPI (excluding imputed rental on OOA) for the lowest 20 per cent income group was 1.3 per cent.

For the middle 60 per cent income group, the increase was 2.1 per cent, and for the highest 20 per cent income group, the increase was 2.5 per cent.

In terms of CPI (for all items), the inflation rate for the lowest 20 per cent was 3.1 per cent; for the middle 60 per cent, it was 2.9 per cent; and for the highest 20 per cent income group, it was 2.7 per cent.

DOS said food and car costs contributed to the increases in the CPIs for all income groups.

However, the DOS noted that these increases were partially offset by lower electricity tariffs, a larger quantum of government rebates on service and conservancy charges (S&CC) for HDB households, and the lower government concessionary levy for foreign domestic helpers.

- CNA/ac

- wong chee tat :)