Consumer prices in January rose 1.7 percent from a year earlier and were 0.2 percent higher compared with December, the Statistics Department said today.

The increase was due to rises in all main indices except for clothing and footwear, which fell 2.4 percent and furniture, furnishings and household equipment and operation, down 0.5 percent, it said in a statement.

Among the indices which posted annual growth were transport and communication, up 5.3 percent, medical care and health expenses, 2.3 percent, and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.6 percent.

Other increases

Other increases were food, up 1.2 percent, rent, fuel and power, 0.7 percent, recreation, entertainment, education and cultural services, 0.6 percent, and beverages and tobacco, 0.1 percent.

Food, rent, fuel, transport and communication accounted for 96.3 percent of the overall increase for the month.

The 0.2 percent month-on-month rise in January was due mainly to increases in recreation, entertainment, education and cultural services, up 0.6 percent, food, 0.4 percent, medical care and health expenses, 0.3 percent, and miscellaneous goods and services, 0.5 percent. AFP