The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Sint Maarten in the 2nd Quarter of 2019 is 100.24. This represents a decrease of 0.05 percent when compared to that of 1st Quarter 2019.
When comparing the consumer prices from the same period 12 months previously (2nd Quarter
2018 to 2nd Quarter 2019), an increase of 0.61 percent was recorded.
Quarter-to-Quarter Percentage Change: 2019 Q1 to 2019 Q2
For the 2nd Quarter 2019, prices in six of the twelve expenditure categories recorded increases, four decreased in price and two remained fairly stable compared to 1st Quarter 2019. The increases were in the categories: ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics’ (+0.74%), ‘Clothing and footwear’ (+0.35%), ‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ (+0.28%), ‘Health’ (+1.67%), ‘Transport’ (+0.65%) and ‘Restaurants and hotels’ (+0.04%). Decreases were seen in the following categories: ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (-1.05%), ‘Furnishings, household equipment, and maintenance’ (-0.32%), ‘Recreation and Culture’ (-0.31%) and ‘Miscellaneous goods and services’ (-1.43%). The increase in ‘Communication’ was negligible and there was no change in ‘Education’.
Based on the latest Household Budget Survey, the following four categories have the largest percentage weight (influence) of the total CPI: Food and non-alcoholic beverages (7.2%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (36.1%), Transport (14.6%) and Miscellaneous goods and services (13.4%).
For Food and non-alcoholic beverages, the cost of the subcategory ‘Food’ went down by 0.95 percent. This was mainly due to the drop in price of meat (-1.02%); milk, cheese, and eggs.
(-2.94%), fruits (-2.09%) and vegetables (-2.61%). Prices in the subcategory ‘Non-alcoholic beverages’ decreased by 1.62 percent. This was driven by a decrease (-1.98%) in the prices of
mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices.
The change in the price of Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels was influenced by increases in the price levels of the subgroups: ‘Actual rentals for housing’ (+1.36%) and
‘Maintenance and repair of the dwelling’ (+0.48%). These increases counteracted the decrease in prices of ‘Electricity, gas and other fuels’ (-1.58%).
For this quarter, the price for Transport was largely impacted by the ‘Operation of personal transport equipment’ (+2.76%) such as fuels and lubricants. While, prices in the category Miscellaneous goods and services decreased largely because of the subcategories ‘Personal care’ (-2.75%) and ‘Personal effects n.e.c1’ (-4.31%).
Year-on-Year Percentage Change (Inflation): Comparing 2019 Q2 with 2018 Q2
The prices of 2nd Quarter 2019 has increased when compared to those of 2nd Quarter 2018. The inflation rate recorded is 0.61 percent. This rise in prices for the 12-month period was largely due to increases in the household expenditure categories: ‘Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics’ (+2.32%), ‘Clothing and footwear’ (+6.22%), ‘Furnishings, household equipment and maintenance’ (+2.20%) and ‘Health’ (+3.29%).
For the four expenditure categories with the highest weight on the Total CPI, the cost of Food and non-alcoholic beverages went down 0.72 percent. The category Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels as well as the category Transport, went up 0.96 percent and
0.37 percent respectively, while ‘Miscellaneous goods and services went down by 0.88
percent, when compared to the same period last year.
This press release and previous press releases are published on our website, www.stat.gov.sx.
1 Not elsewhere classified
Table 1. Consumer price index figures, Quarterly percentage change and Inflation rate for the 12 major expenditure categories for 2019 Quarter 2
|
Expenditure Category |
2018 WEIGHTS |
INDEX *2018 Quarter 2 |
INDEX 2019 Quarter 1 |
INDEX 2019 Quarter 2 |
Quarter-to-Quarter % Change Q1 2019 to Q2 2019 |
Year-on-Year % Change (Inflation) Q2 2018 to Q2 2019 |
|
Food and non-alcoholic beverages Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics Clothing and footwear Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels Furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance Health Transport Communication Recreation and culture Education Restaurants and hotels Miscellaneous goods and services |
7.2% 0.4% 4.8% 36.1% 6.5% 1.9% 14.6% 6.0% 4.6% 2.6% 2.0% 13.4% |
99.70 99.37 97.21 99.36 98.53 99.46 100.16 99.92 100.64 100.00 100.00 100.00 |
100.03 100.92 102.90 100.03 101.02 101.04 99.88 99.53 100.51 100.00 100.00 100.56 |
98.98 101.67 103.26 100.31 100.70 102.73 100.54 99.54 100.19 100.00 100.04 99.12 |
-1.05% 0.74% 0.35% 0.28% -0.32% 1.67% 0.65% 0.00% -0.31% 0.00% 0.04% -1.43% |
-0.72% 2.32% 6.22% 0.96% 2.20% 3.29% 0.37% -0.38% -0.45% 0.00% 0.04% -0.88% |
|
TOTAL |
100% |
99.64 |
100.30 |
100.24 |
-0.05% |
0.61% |
|
*2018 is the new base year, therefore, the average index for the year is rescaled to 100 |
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Chart l. Consumer Price Index Figures - 2018 Quarter 2 and 2019 Quarter 1and Quarter 2
Consumer Price Index Figures- Quarter to quarter comparison
TOTAL Miscellaneous goods & services Restaurants & hotels
Education Recreation & culture Communication Transport
Health
Furnishings, household equipment & maintenance
Housing, utilities, gas & other fuels Clothing and footwear Alcohol, tobacco & narcotics
Food & non-alcoholic beverages
