Georgetown Consumer Price Index –December 2024/January2025

At the end of January 2025, the Georgetown Consumer Price Index (CPI) was recorded at 143.12, a decrease from 143.51 at the end of December 2024, indicating a monthly deflation rate of -0.3 %. The primary contributor to the decrease was the Food category, which declined by -0.8 %.

The price decreases within the Food category were primarily due to lower costs for Vegetables & Vegetable Products (-6.3%), Condiments & Spices (-3.7%), Fruits & Fruit Products (-1.9%), Meat, Fish & Eggs (-0.3%) and Sugar, Honey & Related Products (-0.2%).  Conversely, the following sub-categories saw increases: Prepared Meals & Refreshments (10.0%), Pulses & Pulse Products (2.9%), Alcoholic Beverages & Intoxicants (1.9%), Oil & Fats (excluding Butter) (0.9%), Non-alcoholic Beverages (0.5%), Cereals & Cereal Products (0.3%) and  Milk & Milk Products (0.2%).

Noteworthy, within the non-food categories, the sub-categories Expenditure in Restaurant & Cafes (20.1%), Personal Care Services (6.4%), Goods Not Elsewhere Classified (3.5%), Repairs to Footwear (1.4%), Cleaning Materials (1.2%), Medical & Personal Care (0.7%) and Fuel & Power (0.1%) there were increases. In contrast, the sub-categories Therapeutic Appliances (-1.0%), Goods for Personal Care (-0.3%) and Purchased Transport Services (-0.1%) recorded decreases.

Over the past 12 months, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.1%, largely driven by significant price increases in various categories: Food (5.6%), Miscellaneous Goods and Services (3.2%), Education, Recreation, and Cultural Services (3.1%), Furniture (0.5%), Housing (0.2%) and Transport and Communication (0.1%). Conversely, the Medical Care and Health Services category recorded a decline of -0.1% during this period.