Consumers had to fork out extra few dollars as the prices of various food items, household materials and clothing went up last month.

According to Bureau of Statistics higher prices were recorded for bakery products, meat, fruits, spices, restaurant meals, long bean, imported carrots, local tomato, onion, potato and blue peas which recorded an increase of 0.9 percent.

Consumers also had to pay more for electrical, non electrical appliance, crockery, soft furnishing and jewellry which went up by 0.8 percent.

Alcoholic drinks and tobacco prices increased by 1.1 percent with prices of clothing and footwear going up by 0.5 percent.

Transport recorded a decrease of 0.2 percent while heating and lighting went down by 0.3 percent.

Meanwhile the inflation rate for the month of July stood at 7.1 percent compared to 4.5 percent last year.


Story by: Praneeta Deo