0.4 % the Average Consumer Price decrease for the first eight 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 eight months of 2009 by 0.4% as compared with the same period of 2008. The main commodities groups, which contributed to this decrease, were “Transport”(17.2%), “Fuel and Electricity”(12.2%),“Vegetables”(5.4 %)," Medical care" (2.5%) and “Fruits” (2.8 %). Meanwhile, the main commodities which witnessed an increase in their prices were” Meat and Poultry” (8.9%),” Education” (7.1%), “Cereals and its products” (13.0 %) and” Clothes and Footwear” (7.4%).

          The report shows also an increase in the Consumer Price Average during August 2009 by (2.2 %) as compared with July 2009. The main commodities groups, which contributed to this increase, were” Meat and Poultry” (7.6%),“Vegetables” (15.2%)," Education" (4.1%), " Sugar and its products" (7.0%), " Yoghurt and its products and egg" (3.8%). Meanwhile, the main commodities which witnessed a decrease in their prices were “Drinks and Beverages” (5.8%) and "other foods" (0.2%).

          The Consumer Price Average of August 2009 has decreased by (2.3%) compared with August 2008.  The main commodities groups, which contributed to this decrease, were “Transport” (18.7%), “Fuel and Electricity” (17.0 %), ” Diary and its products and Egg” (6.9%), ” Oils and Fats” (8.0 %) and " Drinks and Beverages" (8.7%). Meanwhile, the main commodities which witnessed an increase in their prices were:” Education” (6.6%), Meat and Poultry” (5.4%), “Clothes and Footwear” (8.2%), “Cereals and its products” (6.2%).

          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 eight months of 2009.