Jordan's CPI inflation eased to 5.5% y/y in July 2013 from 5.8% the month before, the statistics office DoS said in a statement. Lower tobacco, cereals and edible oil prices helped curb the CPI inflation which remains fuelled mainly by rising transport and utilities costs.
Fresh vegetables prices climbed 12.9% y/y in July and those of meat and poultry increased 5.7% amid strong local demand during the fasting month of Ramadan which ended on August 8. Food prices account for 36.6% of the inflation basket. Utilities prices jumped 23.0% y/y in July as the government upped electricity costs. Rents rose 5.5% during the month. Tobacco charges fell 8.8% y/y and 8.8% m/m in July
In monthly terms, the CPI rose 0.5% m/m, down from 0.8% the month before.
In Jan-July, CPI inflation averaged 6.4% y/y. Transport prices climbed 14.7% over the period as the government liberalised fuel costs that are now adjusted on a monthly basis for crude oil price variations. Fresh vegetable charges rose 14.0% in January-July, while utilities costs jumped 24.2%. Rent prices rose 3.4%.
Iraq is in the final stages of negotiating its first-ever purchase of LNG supplies as power outages hamper the Middle East country, Bloomberg reported on June 26. Dallas-headquartered Excelerate ... more
Sudan’s Sovereign Council head, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, issued a constitutional decree on May 19 appointing Kamil al-Tayeb Idris as the new prime minister, Al Sharq Al Awsat reported. He also ... more
Egypt's state-owned gas company EGAS has received several offers to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments urgently needed for summer, Al Sharq reported on May 18, citing an unnamed government ... more