Fluctuating prices for many basic items were seen last month.

The Bureau of Statistics reports that the inflation rate for last month stands at 6.8% compared to 4.8% for the same month last year.

Prices went down for food items including bakery, rice, fresh and preserved meat, fresh fish and fruits, dairy products, spices, vegetables and yaqona. Lower prices were also recorded for toiletries, laundry goods, other household items, petrol, diesel and new tyres.

However, people had to fork out more money for electrical and non-electrical appliances, soft furnishing and duty free goods which went up by 0.2% while prices for certain house repair items increased by 0.1%. The price for Kerosene also recorded an increase by 0.2% last month.

These Changes were recorded in urban areas such as Suva, Lami, Nausori, Lautoka, Nadi, Ba and Labasa.