Press release for Minister of Planning about
Consumer Price Index Numbers Indicators in Iraq
 For January 2008

The Central Organisation for Statistics and Information Technology has completed its monthly report on inflation in Iraq as reflected by the consumer price index (CPI). The index reflects the retail prices of consumer basket in chosen markets in Baghdad and other governorates.
The report shows the followings:

1. The CPI for January 2008 as compared with the previous month increase with a rate of
    (3.4%) mainly due to the in prices of (Food-stuff; Tobacco & Alcoholic Drinks; Clothes-
    cloths and shoes; Furniture; Fuel & Light; Medical services & Medicines; Miscellaneous
    Services & Goods and Rent) groups at the rates of ( 2.1% , 1.2% , 0.4% , 0.7% , 8.7% ,
    1.2% , 0.9% , 2.1%) respectively, while the prices of Transport & communications
    decreased by the rates of ( 0.5%).

2. Inflation indicator (CPI) increased for January 2008 in comparison with January 2007 by
    a  rate of (1.3%) mainly due to the increase in the prices of most commodities & services
    groups (Tobacco & Alcoholic Drinks; Clothes- cloths and shoes; Furniture; Transport &
    communications; Medical Services and Medicines; Miscellaneous Services & Goods and
    Rent) by a rates of (5.0% , 1.7% , 2.4% , 11.7% , 9.5% , 20.3% , 20.0% ) respectively,
    while the prices of( Food-stuff and Fuel & Light ) groups has decreased with a rate of
    (2.7%, 19.6%) respectively .

3. The core inflation*amounted to (17830.0) with an increase of (1.8%) as compared with the
     previous month and (10.9%) as compared with January 2007.

*The core or underlying inflation is defined as the rate of change of CPI calculated by
  excluding the fuel derivatives (kerosene, LPG and Gasoline).