​The CPI in March 2020 increased by 1.6 per cent year-on-year compared to March 2019. Prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased by 1.1 per cent. Meanwhile, NonFood prices increased by 1.8 per cent. 

2. The CPI increase was largely attributed to increases in the prices and costs of Miscellaneous Goods and Services (10.9 per cent); Restaurants and Hotels (4.8 per cent); and Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (1.1 per cent). However, this was moderated by the decrease in price of Transport (0.9 per cent), Communication (1.2 per cent), and Clothing and Footwear (0.7 per cent). 

3. Prices of Miscellaneous Goods and Services increase mainly due to a rise in prices of insurance. Meanwhile, the increase in the prices of Restaurant and Hotels was due to increase in price of catering services. The increase in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages was due to a rise in prices of vegetables. 

4. On a month-on-month basis, the CPI in March 2020 increased by 0.3 per cent compared to January 2020. The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index and the Non-Food Index have both increased by 0.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively. 

5. The CPI is a measure of price changes of goods and services paid by the consumer in a specified period and compiled on a monthly basis. The list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household from the Household Expenditure Survey (HES). The CPI full report for March 2020 is available from DEPS’s website: www.deps.gov.bn.