Food Inflation Rates Surveyed

EghtesadOnline: The Statistical Center of Iran has released a new report reviewing the price changes in 53 food products during the month ending Feb. 18.

News ID: ۷۸۶۱۳۱

01 March 2021

The biggest month-on-month price rise in urban areas during the month under review was recorded for cucumbers with 47.4%, such that 1 kilogram of cucumbers was sold at 153,554 rials (60 cents).

The second and third biggest month-on-month price increases were registered for eggplants with 37.6% and bananas with 33%, the Statistical Center of Iran reported.

A kilogram of eggplants was sold at rials (34 cents) and a kilogram of bananas went for 445,418 rials ($1.73) last month.

Two out of 53 food items examined by SCI saw a price decrease in the 11th Iranian month (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) compared with the month before.

Tomatoes with 14.5% and onions with 8.6% registered month-on-month deflations. A kilogram of tomatoes was sold at 70,093 rials (27 cents) and a kilogram of onions went for 59,353 rials (23 cents).

Compared with the same month of the year before, the retail prices for cucumbers increased by 197.7%, registering the highest year-on-year price rise for a food item.

The second and third biggest year-on-year price rises were registered for bananas with 193.2% and oranges with 171.2%. A kilogram of oranges was sold at 156,921 rials (61 cents).

Year-on-year price deflation was registered for only one item: onions with 18.3%.

The average goods and services Consumer Price Index of “food and beverages” group in the 12-month period ending Feb. 18, which marks the end of the 11th month of the current Iranian year, increased by 34.7% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

The average annual inflation of the group was the highest among 12 groups of the basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households.

With a coefficient of 26.64%, the CPI of “food and beverages” stood at 377.4 in the month ending Feb. 18, indicating a 5.3% increase compared with the month before.

The index registered a year-on-year increase of 67.2%, which was also the highest among the 12 groups.

The basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households surveyed by the SCI include "food and beverages" with a coefficient of 26.64%, "tobacco" with a coefficient of 0.59%, "clothing and shoes" with a coefficient of 4.78%, "housing, water, electricity, natural gas and other fuels" with a coefficient of 35.5% (highest), "furniture, home appliances and their maintenance" with a coefficient of 3.93%, "health and treatment" with a coefficient of 7.14%, "transportation" with a coefficient of 9.41%, "communications" with a coefficient of 2.87%, "leisure and culture" with a coefficient of 1.65%, "education" with a coefficient of 1.86%, "hotels and restaurants" with a coefficient of 1.44% and "miscellaneous items and services" with a coefficient of 4.18%.

The overall average goods and services Consumer Price Index in the 12-month period ending Feb. 18 increased by 34.2% compared with the corresponding period of last year.

SCI had put the average annual inflation rate for the preceding Iranian month, which ended on Jan. 19, at 32.2%.

The consumer inflation for the month under review (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) registered an increase of 48.2% compared with the similar month of the previous Iranian year. The year-on-year inflation of the month ending Jan. 19 was 46.2%.

The overall CPI (using the Iranian year to March 2017 as the base year) stood at 292.8, indicating a 2.5% rise compared with the month before. Month-on-month consumer inflation was at 1.8% for the preceding month.

SCI put average annual inflation for urban and rural areas at 34.1% and 35%, respectively.

CPI registered a year-on-year increase of 47.2% for urban areas and 53.6% for rural areas in the month ending Feb. 18.

The overall CPI reached 289.5 for urban households and 311.2 for rural households, indicating a month-on-month increase of 2.4% and 3.3% for urban and rural areas, respectively.

The highest monthly growth in the index in the Iranian month ending Feb. 18 was recorded for “food and beverages” with 5.3% while a monthly deflation of 1.5% was posted by “communications” group.

The highest year-on-year inflation in the month under review was posted for food and beverages (67.2%) while the lowest YOY inflation were registered for “education” and “communication” groups with 21.8%.

The highest and lowest annual inflation was registered for transportation with 65.3% and communications with 15.1%.

Tehran Inflation at 35.5%

The average goods and services CPI in the 12-month period ending Feb. 18 for Tehran Province, wherein lies the capital city, increased by 35.1% compared with the corresponding period of last year.

SCI had put Tehran’s average annual inflation rate for the preceding Iranian month, which ended on Jan. 19, at 33.7%.

The consumer inflation for the month under review registered an increase of 43.6% year-on-year. The YOY inflation of the month ending Jan. 19 was 43%.

The overall CPI (using the Iranian year to March 2017 as the base year) of Tehran Province stood at 294.3, indicating a 2.2% rise compared with the month before. Month-on-month consumer inflation was 2.4% for the preceding month

SCI put urban and rural areas of Tehran Province’s 12-month inflation for the month under review at 35.1% and 34.1%, respectively.

CPI registered a year-on-year increase of 43.5% for urban areas and 44.6% for rural areas in the month ending Feb. 18.

The overall CPI reached 294.1 for urban households and 302 for rural households, indicating a month-on-month increase of 2.1% and 4.5% for urban and rural areas, respectively.