Tunisia’s CPI inflation edges up to 3.4% y/y in April

By bne IntelliNews May 8, 2016

Higher food price growth fuelled Tunisia’s CPI inflation to a still anchored 3.4% y/y in April from 3.3% y/y the preceding month, the statistics office INS said.

The print accommodates the c-bank monetary stance by leaving the key rate on hold at 4.25% at its latest MPC sitting held on April 28, seeking to reignite the tumbling GDP growth.

In January-April 2016, the CPI index grew 3.4% y/y, remaining well in single digits and the c-bank comfort zone.

In monthly terms, the CPI increased 0.7% in April compared with zero m/m growth in March.

Food and beverages prices rose 0.3% m/m in April, lifting the annual growth to a still anchored 1.8% from 1.3% y/y in March. Fresh fruits increased 2.3% m/m and 11.9% y/y in April. Those of fresh vegetables rose 1.4% m/m and 2.7% y/y. Tobacco and alcoholic costs fell 0.5% y/y in April.

Housing and utilities prices (14% of the basket) rose 0.5% m/m in April, but the annual growth cooled to 4.6% from 4.9% y/y in March. Rents charges climbed 7.0% y/y during the month on strong local demand.

Transport prices rose 1.5% y/y, the same as in March as oil prices kept sinking and the government liberalised the fuel market.

  Apr-15 March-16 Apr-16
CPI (y/y) 5,7% 3,3% 3,4%
Food/beverages 7,2% 1,3% 1,8%
Tobacco 9,9% -0,3% -0,5%
Clothing/Footwear 7,5% 8,6% 8,1%
Housing/utilities 5,4% 4,9% 4,6%
Furniture/equipments 5,5% 5,2% 5,3%
Health 4,0% 2,3% 2,3%
Transport 2,9% 1,5% 1,5%
Communications -2,9% -1,6% -1,4%
Recreation/culture 3,0% 2,4% 1,9%
Education 4,6% 9,9% 10,2%
Rest/Hotels 10,9% 5,3% 4,8%
Other serivces 6,6% 6,1% 6,2%
Source: INS      

Related Articles

Iraq holds talks with Excelerate Energy on buying first LNG from US

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

Reformist Kamil al-Tayeb Idris appointed as Sudan’s new Prime Minister

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 examines LNG supply offers from Saudi Aramco, UAE’s Adnoc, Algeria’s Sonatrach, and QatarEnergy

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

Dismiss