The “food and beverage” group registered the highest annualized inflation among 12 groups of the basket of consumer goods and services during the seventh month of the current Iranian year (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) at 61.4%.
With a coefficient of 26.64%, the CPI of “food and beverages” for all Iranian households stood at 481.9 in the month to Oct. 22, indicating a 5% increase compared with the month before.
The index registered a year-on-year increase of 61.3% - also the highest among the groups under review.
The overall goods and services Consumer Price Index in the 12-month period ending Oct. 22 increased by 45.4% compared with the corresponding period of the year before, latest data released by the Statistical Center of Iran show.
SCI had put the average annual inflation rate for the preceding Iranian month, which ended on Sept. 22, at 45.8%.
The consumer inflation for the month under review registered an increase of 39.2% compared with the similar month of the previous Iranian year. The year-on-year inflation of the month ending Sept. 22 was 43.7%.
The overall CPI (using the Iranian year to March 2017 as the base year) stood at 364.1 for the month ending Oct. 22, indicating a 3.7% rise compared with the month before. Month-on-month consumer inflation was 3.9% for the preceding month.
SCI put average inflation for urban and rural areas at 44.7% and 49.6%, respectively.
CPI registered a year-on-year increase of 38.4% for urban areas and 43.9% for rural areas in the month ending Oct. 22.
The overall CPI reached 360.2 for urban households and 386 for rural households, indicating a month-on-month increase of 3.6% and 4.1%, respectively.
The highest and lowest monthly growth in CPI in the Iranian month ending Oct. 22 was recorded for “education” with 13.5% and “communications” with 1.1%.
The highest year-on-year inflation in the month under review was posted for “food and beverages” with 61.3% while the lowest YOY inflation was registered for “communications” with 1.1%.
In a separate report, SCI reviewed price changes in 53 food items during the month to Oct. 22.
The biggest month-on-month price rise for a food item in urban areas was recorded for bell-pepper at 22.7%, as it was sold for 116,698 rials (42 cents) per kilogram.
The second and third biggest month-on-month price increase during the period under review was registered for watermelon with 21.2% and melon with 17.3%.
Watermelon was sold at 73,667 rials (27 cents) per kg and melon went for 124,216 rials (45 cents) per kg.
Six out of 53 food items examined by SCI saw a price decline in the seventh Iranian month (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) compared with the month before.
Carrots with 19.4%, pomegranate with 9.2% and oranges with 1.9% showed the highest month-on-month deflation. Carrot was sold at 166,698 rials (60 cents), pomegranate 219,031 rials ($79 cents) and orange 250,783 rials (91 cents).
Compared with the same month of the year before, the retail prices for watermelon increased by 228.2%, registering the highest year-on-year price rise for a food item. A kilogram of watermelon was sold at 73,667 rials (26 cents)
The second and third biggest year-on-year price rise was registered for carrot with 224.6% and tomato with 133.2%. A kilogram of carrot was sold at 166,698 rials (61 cents) and a kilogram of tomato went for 92,619 rials (33 cents).
No item registered a year-on-year price deflation in the month ending Oct. 22.
