He National index of consumer prices in cities March recorded a year-on-year variation of 1.3%, settling at 2.0% during the first quarter of the year.
IUrban National PC compared to the month of February, it varied by 0.2%, with groups of goods and various services by 1.5%; Transportation 0.2%; Food and non-alcoholic beverages; and Housing, water, electricity and gas, both 0.1% each, which recorded the largest price increase.
Six out of ten classes in the Goods and Services group recorded price increases, with the largest variations recorded in the Health Insurance and Traffic Insurance classes, both at 8.3% each.
The rise in “Insurance related to transport” The reason for this is the increase in the prices of auto insurance services, INEC specifies. On the other hand, the increase recorded in the Transportation group is the result of an increase in one of its seven classes, namely “Air passenger transportation” by 9.0%, driven by an increase in air ticket prices.
He Food and non-alcoholic beverages group Growth was recorded in five out of eleven classes, and the biggest variations were highlighted in the “Fish” classes of 2.2%, due to the increase in the prices of fish and shrimp; “Fruit” 1.8%; and “Milk, cheese and eggs” 1.0%, due to higher prices of milk and cheese.
In it Housing, water, electricity and gas group recorded growth in two of its eight classes, mainly in the group of materials for maintenance and repairs of apartments by 1.8%, as a result of the increase in prices of materials for apartment repairs.
Health groups; communications; Recreation and culture; and Restaurants and hotels represents a small variation, while the Education group remained unchanged.
Meanwhile, the groups that recorded a decline are: Clothing and footwear by 0.3%; Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 0.2%; and Furniture, household goods and general household maintenance 0.1%.
The decrease recorded in the Clothing and footwear group was favored by a decrease in three of its four classes. The biggest deviations were in the classes Shoes and other footwear by 0.4%, due to the price reduction of girls’ slippers and sandals, and Clothing by 0.3%.
Drop in the group Alcoholic beverages and tobacco was the result of a decrease in three of the four classes, highlighting the biggest variation in the “Wine” class of 3.4%.
The group Furniture, household items and ordinary household maintenance recorded a decrease in two of its eleven classes, “Tools and large accessories” by 0.4%, due to a decrease in the prices of household tools, and “Goods for unnecessary needs”. permanent household” 0.3%, due to the reduction in the prices of cleaning and maintenance products.
Interannual variation
Compared to March last year, the groups that recorded growth are: Housing, water, electricity and gas by 11.4%; Food and soft drinks 4.9%; Restaurants and hotels 4.3%; Education 3.7%; Various goods and services 3.5%; and Alcoholic beverages and tobacco 3.2%.
The Recreation and Culture group reflects a slight variation, while the groups that recorded a decline were: Transportation 6.6%; Health 3.1%; Clothing and footwear 0.8%; Communications 0.4%; and Furniture, household goods and general household maintenance 0.1%.
Source: Panama America
I am Jason Root, author with 24 Instant News. I specialize in the Economy section, and have been writing for this sector for the past three years. My work focuses on the latest economic developments around the world and how these developments impact businesses and people’s lives. I also write about current trends in economics, business strategies and investments.
