0.1 % the Average Consumer Price decrease for the first seven months of 2009

          The monthly report on inflation in Jordan issued by the Department of Statistics indicates a decrease in the Consumer Price Average during the first seven months of 2009 by 0.1% as compared with the same period of 2008. The main commodities groups, which contributed to this decrease, were “Transport” (16.9%) “Fuel and Electricity” (11.5%)  “Vegetables” (6.7 %), “Fruits” (3.2 %), “Medical Care” (2.3%). Meanwhile the main commodities which witnessed an increase in their prices were” Meat and Poultry” (9.4%), “Cereals and its products” (14.0 %) and” Education” (7.1%).

          The report shows also an increase in the Consumer Price Average during July 2009 by (0.3 %) as compared with June 2009. The main commodities groups, which contributed to this increase, were” Transport” (2.0%), “Fuel and Electricity” (1.8%), “Vegetables” (2.6 %), “Meats and Poultry” (1.0 %) and “Medical Care” (1.0 %). Meanwhile the main commodities, which witnessed a decrease in their prices, were “Fruits” (10.7%), “Drinking and Beverages” (2.8%), “Fish and sea products” (0.5%) and “Personal Care” (0.1%).

          The Consumer Price Average of July 2009 has decreased by (3.6%) compared with July 2008.  The main commodities groups, which contributed to this decrease, were “Transport” (21.5%), “Fuel and Electricity” (19.9 %), ” Diary and its products and Egg” (8.9%), “Fruits” (10.9 %) and” Oils and Fats” (8.1 %). Meanwhile the main commodities, which witnessed an increase in their prices, were “Education” (7.0%) “Clothes and Footwear” (7.7) “Meat and Poultry” (4.4%) and “Rents” (1.6%).

          It is worthy to mention that these figures were computed taking 2006 as base year The prices data are collected by the Department of Statistics monthly through a sample that includes (3786) commercial shops distributed all over the Kingdom’s governorates covering the prices of (851) commodities. The vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry and gold prices are collected four times monthly at the rate of one time every week. Meanwhile, the other commodities prices are collected one time monthly. For computing the price index, the (DOS) uses weights for different commodities based on the results of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2006. All prices are collected with their relative weights to derive the consumer price index by using (LASPEURE) formula. The following figure shows the trend of monthly average of consumer price index for 2007, 2008 and the first seven months of 2009.

The monthly and accumulative average change of the consumer Price during 2008 and the first seven months of 2009.