UAE consumer prices rise 0.21 %

The National Bureau of Statistics announced that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the UAE recorded a 0.21 per cent increase in May 2012 compared to April, 2012. The CPI rose by 0.81 per cent when compared to May 2011, and recorded an increase of 0.70 per cent increase during the first five months of 2012 when compared to the same period last year. Food groups and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 1.41 per cent due to an increase in the prices of meat, poultry, fish, spices, salt and vegetables, while the bureau reported a drop in the prices of dairy products, fruits, eggs, tea, coffee beans, cocoa, oil, sugar and mineral waters. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices rose by 0.61 per cent due to an increase in prices of cigarettes and cigars.Commodities and other miscellaneous services recorded a decrease of 0.27 per cent. Abu Dhabi prices recorded an increase of 0.22 per cent, while prices in Dubai increased by 0.35 per cent. Prices in Ajman rose by 0.40 per cent in May, mainly due to an increase in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages. Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain saw an increase of 0.15 per cent and 0.14 per cent respectively, and prices in Ras Al Khaimah increased by 0.08 per cent for similar reasons as Ajman. Prices in Sharjah, on the other hand, dropped by 0.11 per cent due to a decrease in prices of clothes, shoes and household items.from gulfnews.com