Cost of living in Abu Dhabi up marginally

Inflation rate in Abu Dhabi consumer prices for the first five months of 2013 was 0.9 per cent, compared with the same period of 2012, according to Statistics Centre-Abu Dhabi (Scad)

Scad's report indicates that CPI rose to 123.4 points during the first five months of 2013, up from 122.3 points during the same period of 2012.

'Restaurants and hotels' group, accounted for 34.7 per cent of the increase. This contribution resulted mainly from an increase of 7.8 per cent in the prices of this group.

Based on the report, the second highest contributor to the overall increase in the CPI over the first five months of 2013 was the "Transport" group which accounted for 31.4 per cent of the overall increase occurring during the first five months of 2013 compared with the same period of 2012, by 2.9 per cent.

The prices of "Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" rose by 2.9 per cent during the first five months of 2013 compared with the same period of 2012. This group contributed 16 per cent of the total increase achieved by all groups.

The prices of "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" group which accounted for the largest rise in the index during the first five months 2013 compared with the same period of 2012, contributing 9.6 per cent to the change. Rises in the "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" group came as a result of increases in the prices of most of its subgroups. The prices of "Vegetables" rose by 7.2 per cent, "Fruit" by 5.5 per cent, "Coffee, tea and cocoa" by 4.9 per cent", "Food products n.e.c." by 4.7 per cent" and "Oil and fats" by 1.6 per cent.

Among the main groups that slowed down the rise in consumer prices during the first five months of 2013 compared with the same period of 2012, was the "Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels" group which contributed (-35.6)% as the prices of this group decreased by 0.8 per cent.

Consumer prices in May 2013/2012 SCAD indicated that the CPI increased by 0.7 per cent in May 2013, compared with the same period of 2012, as shown by the increase in the CPI from 122.8 points in May 2012 to 123.6 points in May 2013.

The most significant groups, which experienced increases in prices during May 2013 compared with May 2012, were "Alcoholic beverages and tobacco" with 8.5 per cent increase, followed by "Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" with 3.7 per cent, "transport" by 3.1 per cent, and "Restaurants and hotels" by 2.9 per cent. Over the same period, the "Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels" group decreased by 0.6 per cent.

Consumer prices in May/April 2013 Average consumer prices increased by 0.3 per cent in May 2013 compared with April 2013.

The most significant groups, which experienced increases in prices during May 2013 compared with April 2012, were the "Miscellaneous goods and services" by 1.9 per cent and "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" with 1 per cent increase.

Detailed by household welfare levels, the report shows a rise of 0.9 per cent in consumer prices during the first five months of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, resulted in a surge of 1.3 per cent in consumer prices for households of the bottom welfare quintile for the same period of comparison. The corresponding rise for other welfare levels was 0.9 per cent for households of the top quintile and 0.8 per cent for the middle quintile.

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