THE inflation rate has increased for the month of April.

This was revealed by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) on Thursday.

By Sue-Ann Wayow

The CSO reported that the inflation rate for April 2025, which measures the percentage change in the All Items Index for the month of April 2025 over April 2024, was 1.5 per cent.

This represents an increase from 1.0 per cent for the previous period March 2025/March 2024.

The inflation rate for the comparative period April 2024/April 2023 was 0.5 per cent.

The All Items Index calculated from the prices collected for the month of April 2025 was 125.2, representing an increase of 0.2 point or 0.2 per cent above the All Items Index for March 2025.

The Index for Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages decreased from 153.4 in March 2025 to 152.9 in April 2025, reflecting a decrease of -0.3 per cent.

The CSO stated, “Contributing significantly to this decrease was the general downward movement in the prices of fresh whole chickens, hot peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, fresh king fish, plantains, full cream powdered milk, pimento and melongene.

“However, the full impact of these price decreases was offset by the general increase in the prices of pumpkin, irish potatoes, garlic, fresh steak, table margarine, cheddar cheese, oranges, parboiled rice, ochroes and onions.”

In April, there were also increase in the sub-indices for alcohol and tobacco, home ownership and rent – 0.7 per cent, health – 0.3 per cent, transport – 0.4 per cent, recreation and culture of 0.1 per cent, hotels, cafes and restaurants of 0.6 per cent and miscellaneous goods and services of 0.2 per cent.

This period also showed a decrease in the sub-index for furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house of – 0.4 per cent.

All other sections remained unchanged, the CSO stated.