Kuwait inflation edges up in April

KUWAIT CITY - Kuwait’s statistics office reported the following April consumer price data on Tuesday.

Kuwait Consumer Inflation 04/18 03/18 pct change month/month 0.1 -0.4 pct change year/year 0.7 0.6

Note: Starting with June 2017 data, the statistics office changed the base year for the consumer price index to 2013 from 2007, saying the accompanying changes in weightings in the consumer basket had the effect of raising infl ation rates for past years slightly.

Prices of food and beverages, which account for nearly 17 percent of the new basket, fell 0.4 percent from a year earlier in April.

Housing costs, which account for over 33 percent of consumer expenses, dropped 1.5 percent. Transport costs increased 1.0 percent.