Press release for Minister of Planning about
Consumer Price Index Numbers Indicators in Iraq
 For May  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 May 2008 as compared with the previous month decreased at a rate of
                 (1.3%) mainly due to decrease in prices of (Food-stuff ; Tobacco & Alcoholic Drinks ;
                 Furniture ; Transport & communications ; Medical Services and Medicines) groups at
                 the rates of (5.8% , 1.0% , 0.2% , 4.7% , 0.6%) respectively, while the prices of
                 (Clothes - cloths and shoes ; Fuel& Light ; Miscellaneous Services & Goods) have
                 increased by the rates of (3.6% , 1.8%, 2.6%) respectively.

2. Inflation indicator increased for May 2007 in comparison with May 2008 by a rate of (4.6%) mainly due to the increase in the prices of commodities & services groups (Food-stuff ; Tobacco & Alcoholic Drinks ; Clothes - cloths and shoes ; Furniture ; Medical Services and Medicines ; Miscellaneous Services & Goods and Rent) by a rates of (12.9% , 8.9% , 3.0% , 6.2% , 12.7% , 13.3% , 16.6%) respectively, while the prices of (Fuel& Light ; Transport & communications) groups has decreased by a rates of (17.3% , 9.3% ) .

            3. The core inflation*amounted to (18669.2) with a decrease of (2.0%) as compared
                 with the previous month and increase of (14.5%) as compared with May 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).