Algerian annual rate of inflation stands unchanged at 1.5% in last August

Algeria’s annual rate of inflation stood unchanged at 1.5% in last August, for the third month in a row, the National Office of Statistics (ONS) told APS.
In fact, after reaching 2.7% in January 2014, Algeria’s annual rate of inflation continued its reducing trend to stand at 2.3% in February, down to 2% in March, to 1.8% in April and in 1.6% in May to stabilize at 1.5% since June 2014, the Office added.
As for the monthly rate, the consumer prices increased 0.4% in last August, i.e. a slightly higher variation than last July’s (0.1%), but much lower than that recorded in August 2013 (0.9%), the Office said.
The progress in the consumer prices is driven by 0.5% growth in food products, induced by soaring prices of fresh food products (0.7%) and those of the industrial food products 0.3%.
 The increase of fresh food products is explained by soaring prices of fresh fruits 9.06%, the ONS said which also notes in increase by 2% of des the prices of sheep meat and by 3% of beef meat.
Moreover, the Office noted a decrease in the consumer prices in last August in comparison with July
The most important drops concerned fresh fish (-6%) and potato (-3.7%). Fresh vegetables have also dropped (-1.6%) as well as chicken meat (nearly -2%).
However, the manufactured goods increased by 0.2% and services by 0.4% during the same period.
In 2013, the annual inflation rate hit 3.3%, after the sharp acceleration of inflation of 8.9% recorded in 2012.
For 2014, the government banks on an inflation rate at 3.5%.