Cheaper Dubai rents drive lower

Consumer prices declined 1.42 per cent in Dubai in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of the previous year. This was due to decline in the cost of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 6.28 per cent, clothing and footwear by 1.83 per cent and communication by 0.18 per cent. However, prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 3.64 per cent, furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 3.23 per cent, miscellaneous goods and services by 2.85 per cent, transport by 2.57 per cent, education by 1.81 per cent, restaurants and hotels by 1.04 per cent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 0.39 per cent, recreation and culture by 0.26 per cent and health care by 0.14 per cent. Inflation in major expenditure groups: Click here to read: Consumer Price Index comparison for first quarter of 2011 and 2012 Food and non-alcoholic beverages Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 3.64 per cent as a result of increase in the prices of fish and sea foods by 15.38 per cent, followed by rise in prices of other food products by 9.09 per cent and sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery by 8.41 per cent. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco Prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased by 0.39 per cent due to increase in alcoholic beverages by 1.71 per cent. Clothing and footwear Prices of clothing and footwear dropped by 1.83 per cent as a result of a drop in prices of clothing materials by 3.66 per cent, followed by a drop in prices of garments by 3.30 per cent. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels Costs of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels dropped by 6.28 per cent as rents declined by 7.70 per cent and cost of house repairs by 2.59 per cent and solid fuels by 12.53 per cent. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance Prices of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance rose 3.23 per cent  due to increase in textile prices by 10.49 per cent followed by increase in prices of glassware, tableware and household utensils by 5.84 per cent and 3.54 per cent for furniture and furnishings. Health care Health care costs rose by 0.14 per cent due to raise in paramedical service costs by 0.65 per cent and pharmaceuticals by 0.09 per cent. Transport Cost of transport rose 2.57 per cent, with the highest increase in the prices of spare parts and accessories for cars by 12.14 per cent. Prices of motor cycles rose 7.99 per cent. Communications Cost of communication declined by 0.18 per cent due to decrease in prices of wireless and wired equipment by 9.67 per cent. Recreation and culture Inflation in recreation and culture costs amounted to 0.26 per cent due to the increase in prices of plants and flowers by 9.11 per cent, toys by 6.70 per cent and cultural services by 1.55 per cent. Education Cost of education increased by 1.81 per cent due to increase in education costs not definable by level by 16.67 per cent, followed by tertiary education by 2.58 per cent and pre-primary and primary education by 1.32 per cent. Restaurants and hotels Restaurants and hotels costs increased 1.04 per cent because of increase in hotels tariffs by 5.58 per cent and restaurants and cafés by 1.01 per cent. Miscellaneous goods and services Inflation in miscellaneous goods and services was 2.85 per cent as a result of increase in prices of jewellery, clocks and watches by 16.51 per cent, personal care products by 4.56 per cent and other services by 4 per cent.