Prices Fall By 5.9% In The Year To August

Consumer Prices in August, as measured by the CPI, increased by 0.4% last month. This compares to an increase of 0.5% recorded in August of last year. As a result, prices on average, as measured by the CPI, were 5.9% lower in August compared with August 2008.

Clothing and footwear prices rose due to a recovery in prices following the traditional summer sales.

The costs for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased due to higher average mortgage interest repayments. These were partially offset by decreases in private rental charges.

Transport costs rose due to increases in airfares and petrol and diesel prices.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages fell due to lower prices across a wide range of food items.

The CPI excluding tobacco index for August increased by 0.4% in the month and was down 6.5% in the year.

The CPI excluding energy products index rose by 0.2% in the month and decreased by 5.4% in the year.

The CPI excluding mortgage interest increased by 0.2% in the month and was down by 1.8% in the year.