Statistics Center - Abu Dhabi, SCAD, released today a new issue of its monthly report on the consumer price index, CPI, and the inflation rate in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for January 2016, replacing 2007 with 2014 as a base year.

The new basket is made up of 1,407 goods and services, grouped into 12 expenditure groups, categorised using the Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose. With 2014 fixed as the base year, it is shown that between 2007 and 2015, inflation reached a peak (14.9 percent) in 2008, only to fall to its lowest rate (0.8 percent) the following year. SCAD's monthly CPI report analyses the CPI calculations for the period under review, also giving the CPI results detailed by welfare levels, household types and geographical region. SCAD collects and regularly updates its price data from selected representatives and geographically distributed outlets, ensuring compliance with international standards and methodologies in this regard. The data collected constitutes a time series depicting change in the cost of living over time.

As price data reveal, consumer prices advanced by 3.2 percent in January 2016 compared with January 2015. This fall reflects the net outcome of the rises and falls in the price of the goods and services of the consumer basket and during the aforesaid period.

Thehousing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels' group, accounted for the largest share (81.8 percent) of the overall year-on-year rise in January prices, the group's prices having risen by 8.2 percent over same period. The "food and beverages" group contributed 3.9 percent of the 3.2 percent rise in consumer prices during January 2016, compared with January 2015, as the group's increased by 1.1 percent. In addition, the "restaurants and hotels" sector contributed 5.7 percent of the overall rise, reflecting a 4.8 increase in the prices of this group during January 2016 compared with January 2015.

As monthly price data reveal, consumer prices nudged down 0.6 percent in January 2016 compared with December 2015. This fall reflects the net outcome of the rises and falls in the price of the goods and services of the consumer basket and during the aforesaid period.

The largest contributors to this fall were the 'transport' group (down 3.5 percent) and the furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance group (down 1.0 percent).

A breakdown of the 3.2 percent increase in consumer prices during January 2016 compared with January 2015 by welfare level shows in a rise of 3.5 percent in consumer prices for households of the bottom welfare level, 3.3 percent for the middle quintile and 3.1 percent for the top welfare level.

Detailed by welfare level, the 0.6 fall in consumer prices during January 2016 compared with December 2015 resulted in a fall of 0.5 percent in consumer prices for households of the bottom welfare level, and 0.6 percent for the middle and the top welfare levels.

A breakdown of the 3.2 percent increase in consumer prices during January 2016 compared with January 2015 by household type impacted consumer prices for citizen households by 3.0 percent. The corresponding increases were and 3.4 percent for non-citizen households and 3.9 percent for shared households.

Detailed by household type, the 0.6 fall in consumer prices during January 2016 compared with December 2015 resulted in falls of 0.7 percent in consumer prices for citizen households, 0.6 percent for non-citizen households and 0.4 percent for shared households.

In the Abu Dhabi region, the CPI increased by 3.8 percent in January 2016, compared with the January 2015, but fell by 0.6 percent in January 2016 compared with December 2015. The major expenditure groups that declined in January 2016 compared with December 2015 were the "transport" group (down 3.7 percent), the "furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance" group, (down 1.9 percent) and the "food and beverages" group (down 0.4 percent).

In the Al Ain region, the CPI increased by 2.5 percent in January 2016, compared with the January 2015, but fell by 0.7 percent in January 2016 compared with December 2015. The major expenditure groups that declined in January 2016 compared with December 2015 were the "transport" group (down 3.1 percent), and the "food and beverages" group (down 0.6 percent).

In Al Gharbia region, the CPI increased by 2.2 percent in January 2016, compared with the January 2015, but fell by 0.7 percent in January 2016 compared with December 2015. The major expenditure groups that declined in January 2016 compared with December 2015 were the "transport" group (down 3.5 percent), and the "food and beverages" group (down 0.7 percent).

A break down by region of the 3.2 rise in consumer prices during January 2016 compared with January 2015 reveals that Abu Dhabi region accounted for 75.2 percent of the overall rise during the period under review, followed by a Al Ain region (20.8 percent) and the Al Gharbia region (4.0 percent). 

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