Consumer prices fell slightly in April

Prices of health services, telecommunications, garments, footwear and services in restaurants and hotels fell between 0.01 per cent and 0.7 percent in April compared to the previous month, according to a monthly report released by the UAE Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority. 

The increase in costs of transportation, education, housing, water, electricity, gas, food and non-alcoholic beverages ranged between 0.08 percent and 3.4 percent, using the same comparison period. 

Meanwhile, the authority announced that at the end of the first quarter of 2016, the base year for calculating the consumer price index will become 2014 instead of 2007. 

Changes in prices during 2013 and 2014 will be taken into account, the authority said.