Food prices push Jamaica's May inflation up 1.5%

Jamaica saw inflation move up by 1.5% in May, with food costs accounting for much of the increase. Data released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) showed a rise in the All Jamaica Consumer Price Index for the month, led by a 1.9% advance in food and non-alcoholic beverages.

STATIN said agricultural items such as tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, ripe bananas and pineapples became more expensive. That pushed the index covering vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses up by 4.8%. Restaurants and accommodation services also added to the monthly rise, climbing 5.7% mainly because meals bought away from home cost more. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels increased by 0.7%, as electricity rates moved higher. For the 12 months ending in May, STATIN placed point-to-point inflation at 5.4%.