The Consumer Price Index increased by 1.7 percent compared to the previous month, while the annual inflation rate amounted to 6.4 percent in September 2019, the Georgian National Statistics Office (Geostat) said on Thursday.

According to Geostat in the same period the inflation rate without tobacco1 amounted to 1.8 percent over the previous month, while the prices increased by 5.7 percent compared to the same month of previous year. With regard to the annual core inflation2 , the prices increased by 4.6 percent, while the annual core inflation without tobacco3 amounted to 3.2 percent. The following table shows percentage changes in prices for the commodity groups of the consumer basket as well as the relevant contributions to the overall monthly inflation rate.

The annual inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes for the following groups: Food and non-alcoholic beverages: the prices in the group increased by 11.7 percent, contributing 3.49 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. Within the group the prices were higher for the following subgroups: fish (16.1 percent), milk, cheese and eggs (14.6 percent), sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (13.2 percent), meat (12.6 percent), bread and cereals (10.8 percent), vegetables (10.1 percent), mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices (7.6 percent) and oils and fats (3.0 percent); Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: the prices increased by 14.6 percent, with a relevant contribution of 0.97 percentage points to the overall annual CPI growth. The prices increased for tobacco (29.0 percent) and for alcoholic beverages (2.6 percent); Transport: the prices went up by 3.9 percent, which resulted in a 0.47 percentage point contribution to the overall annual inflation rate. The prices were higher for purchase of vehicles (9.1 percent), operation of personal transport equipment (4.0 percent) and transport services (2.0 percent);

Recreation and culture: the prices increased by 6.9 percent, contributing 0.39 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. The prices in the group increased for recreational and cultural services (6.6 percent); Health: the prices went up by 4.0 percent, contributing 0.32 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. The prices increased for the following subgroups: medical products, appliances and equipment (6.6 percent), out-patient services (3.7 percent) and hospital services (1.1 percent).

source: IPN