Ammon News - The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation, increased by 1.56% from the start of the year through October, reaching 110.58 points compared to 108.88 points during the same period last year, according to the monthly report by the Department of Statistics.

Key contributors to this cumulative rise include personal items (up 11.6%), water and sanitation services (up 7.34%), union dues (up 5.86%), rental costs (up 3.86%), and tobacco products (up 3.53%).

For October alone, the CPI rose to 110.61 points, marking a 0.76% increase over the 109.78 points in October 2023. The monthly rise was largely influenced by increases in personal items (21.38%), water and sanitation (7.34%), tobacco (6.77%), union dues (5.86%), and food seasonings and enhancers (4.82%).

Offsetting these increases were declines in categories like fruits and nuts (down 6.92%), vegetables and pulses (down 6.31%), furniture and carpets (down 3.04%), and fuel and lighting (down 2.74%).

Month-over-month, the CPI remained stable from September to October, with slight decreases in meat and poultry (down 1.81%), fruits and nuts (down 1.24%), culture and entertainment (down 0.95%), transportation (down 0.72%), and fuel and lighting (down 0.65%).