Tunisia’s CPI inflation remained at a three-year low of 4.2% y/y September, the same as a month earlier as a mild increase in food prices was mitigated by slowing housing costs, falling telecom charges and stabilising transport prices, the statistics office INS said.
In monthly terms, the CPI rose 0.3% in September, inching up from a marginal 0.1% m/m rise in August. Excluding energy prices, the CPI inflation reached 4.5% y/y in September. Excluding food and energy, the CPI stood at 4.8% y/y.
Food prices grew 0.7% m/m in September lifting the annual growth to 4.0% from 3.7% y/y in August.
Fresh vegetables grew 4.0% m/m during the month and those of fresh fruits rose 2.4% m/m.
Housing and utilities prices (14% of the basket) ticked up just 0.1% m/m, cutting the annual rise to 5.5% from 5.8% y/y in August. Rents charges climbed 7.7% y/y in September while those of utilities edged up 0.3% on falling energy costs.
Transport prices edged up a marginal 0.2% m/m in September, sending the annual rise to 1.6% from 1.5% y/y in August. Falling foreign tourist arrivals partially offset the strong local demand as restaurant and hotels prices grew 8.5% y/y, slowing from 9.4% y/y in August.
| Sept-14 | Aug-15 | Sept-15 | ||
| CPI (y/y) | 5,6% | 4,2% | 4,2% | |
| Food/beverages | 6,3% | 3,7% | 4,0% | |
| Tobacco | 12,0% | 0,3% | 0,4% | |
| Clothing/Footwear | 6,7% | 6,4% | 6,7% | |
| Housing/utilities | 6,3% | 5,8% | 5,5% | |
| Furniture/equipments | 5,2% | 5,7% | 5,9% | |
| Health | 1,9% | 3,4% | 3,0% | |
| Transport | 3,3% | 1,5% | 1,6% | |
| Communications | -2,3% | -2,5% | -2,4% | |
| Recreation/culture | 3,8% | 3,4% | 3,1% | |
| Education | 3,2% | 4,8% | 6,4% | |
| Rest/Hotels | 10,0% | 9,4% | 8,5% | |
| Other serivces | 5,7% | 6,5% | 6,6% | |
| Source: INS |
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