Dubai Q1 inflation rises 1.6% on education costs

Dubai - Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group witnessed an increase of 4.15 per cent year on year

Dubai's inflation edged up 1.61 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, according to data released by the Dubai Statistics Centre on Sunday.
The first quarter consumer price index was at 125.05 this year compared to 123.06 last year. The emirate's March inflation increased to 1.5 per cent.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group witnessed an increase of 4.15 per cent year on year. This group is considered the index heavyweight with its consumer basket size of 43.7 per cent.
The education group, which contributes 4.09 in the index, witnessed the highest increase of 4.83 per cent in the first quarter. The food and beverages group increased by 2.96 per cent and it has a relative importance impact to the consumer basket of 11.08 per cent.
The miscellaneous goods and services group increased by 1.88 per cent and this group accounted for 6.15 per cent of the total weight of the consumer basket.
The restaurants and hotels group increased by 1.23 per cent and it forms 5.48 per cent in relative importance of the consumer basket. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance group increased by 0.93 per cent.
The health group grew by 0.17 per cent.
The recreation and culture group increased by 0.14 per cent. The transport group, with 9.08 per cent weight in the index, decreased by 6.64 per cent. Clothing and footwear group also decreased by 4.12 per cent. Tobacco group dropped by 0.94 per cent and communication group recorded a decrease of 0.08 per cent.
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com