Inflation edges up slightly in September, still near record low

Egypt’s consumer price index for urban consumers (CPI-U) rose to 3.8 percent in September, compared to 3.4 percent in August 2020, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) said on Saturday.

The agency added, in its monthly inflation report, that the whole country’s CPI recorded 107.5 points for September, maintaining its level of August 2020.

CAPMAS said that the fruit prices decreased by 7.6 percent; meat and poultry by 1.5 percent; fish and seafood by 0.4 percent; dairy, cheese, and eggs by 0.1 percent; and clothing and shoes by 0.1 percent.

However, the prices of other goods increased, including vegetables by 1.7 percent; cereals and bread by 1.7 percent; house rents by 0.9 percent; goods and services used in home maintenance by 0.6 percent; medical devices and equipment by 0.7 percent; private transportation by 8.1 percent; newspapers, books, and stationery by 1.8 percent; and personal care products by 0.6 percent.

According to CAPMAS, the annual headline inflation declined to 3.3 percent in September 2020, compared to 3.6 percent in August 2020, and 4.3 percent in September 2019.