The inflation rate reached 5.7% in August 2017, against 5.6% the previous month. Inflation this year has gone through successive increases ranging from 4.6% in January 2017, to 5% in April, followed by stabilisation at 4.8% and then a significant increase to 5.6% in July 2017, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

This is the highest rate since February, March and April 2015 (5.7%). Inflation followed a series of declines with the lowest (3.3%) recorded in March 2016 and rising again to 5.7% in August 2017.

The underlying inflation rate "excluding food and beverages and non-energy" is 6%. Prices for free (unmanaged) products edged up by 6.2% over a year, and particularly for free food products, up 6.1% from 1% for managed products.

This slight rise in August is mainly due to the acceleration in the rate of change in food prices year-on-year (5.2% against 3.6% in July 2017), mainly meat (4.7%) and vegetables (6.2%).

On the other hand, this inflation is mainly due to the 5.2% rise in food and beverage prices, the 17.5% rise in the price of edible oils, 6.3% in fish, 4.7% in meat and 2.7% in milk, cheese and eggs.

Beverage prices were also up by 6% as a result of higher prices for mineral water, soft drinks and fruit juice by 7.1% and coffee and tea prices by 3.5%.

In addition, the clothing and footwear edged up 8.8% in annual variation due to the increase in prices of shoes by 7.7%, clothes by 9.3% and fabrics by 4,2%.

The group housing, water, gas, electricity and other fuels increased by 4% due to a 4.5% increase in rents, 2.9% electricity and gas rates.

According to the same source, prices for furniture, household goods and household maintenance rose by 5.1%. Prices for the healthcare group rose by 3.7%, as a result of the 2.2% rise in drug prices and private ambulatory services by 6.5%.

Prices of the transport group's tariffs were up by 8.2%, as a result of an increase in vehicle prices by 16.7%, vehicle use expenses by 6.1% and services by 1.9% of transport. Similarly, communication group prices rose by 2.8%, due to the 33.5% jump in prices for postal services and 9.7% in telephony equipment.

Tariffs in restaurants and hotels continued to climb up at a rate of 7.3%, driven by a 7.7% increase in restaurant and coffee services prices and a 4.5% rise in accommodation services.

Finally, prices for other goods and services rose by 4.9% as personal care prices increased by 5.8% and personal effects by 7.6%.

© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2017