INFLATION: Rwanda prices fall 0.42 percent in September

KIGALI, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Prices in Rwanda fell by 0.42 percent year-on-year in September compared with a fall of 1.39 percent in August, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) said on Friday. “In September 2010 the all Rwanda general index was established at 104.9. this amounts to an increase of 2.91 percent over the previous month which was 101.9. In annual terms, the index was -0.42 percent compared with -1.39 percent in the previous month,” NISR said. “In September 2010 the all urban general index was established at 104.8 this stands for an increase of 1.23 percent over the previous month which was 103.5. In annual change it increased by 1.47 percent compared to 1.96 percent in the previous month. This gives a general inflation rate by an annual average of 3.7 percent during the month of September 2010,” NISR added in a statement. Prices in Rwanda began to fall in July this year.The statement also added that the underlying inflation rate (excluding fresh food and energy) decreased by (-0.12 percent) if compared to the previous month and increased by 0.88 percent on annual change. ”The annual average underlying inflation rate was + 2.2 percent in September 2010 down from the previous month,” it added. The increase in the consumer prices index of 1.23 percent is primarily attributable to the increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.27 percent) and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.75 percent). It is noted that the increase of 3.27 percent in prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages is primary attributable to the increase of 8.00 percent of vegetables. In annual change, the increase in the general index of 1.47 percent was reported to be mainly due to the rising prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.61 percent), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (2.39 percent) and transport (2.96 percent) which contributed +0.22 percent, +0.51 percent and +0.37 percent respectively. Inflation in neighbouring Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania has been benign this year after food harvests rose following good rains. Ends