What is the cost of life in Georgia in 2015?

The cost of some basic food items in Georgia is dropping thanks to a slight fall in the monthly inflation rate while the prices on manufacturing, chemical products and tobacco are on the rise.

In April 2015 the Producer Price Index (PPI) for Industrial Products increased 2.3 percent over March 2015, revealed data published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) today.

The annual percentage increase compared to April 2014 was 8.7 percent. The index was 78.4 percent higher compared to the 2005 average.

Prices have increased for manufacturing (2.7 percent), chemical products (22.8 percent) and food products, beverages and tobacco products (1.9 percent).

Electricity, gas and water costs were 4.1 percent lower, with a relevant contribution of -0.54 percentage points to the overall index in April 2015 over the last month.

Meanwhile, the Geostat figures noted the country’s minimum subsistence level (amount of money a person needed to support themselves) had slightly increased in April 2015 compared to the previous year, but had decreased compared to March 2015.

Figures showed the minimum subsistence level for an able-bodied male in April 2015 was almost 160 GEL.This was about 5 GEL higher than in April 2014, where the minimum subsistence level was 155.6 GEL.

For the average consumer, the minimum subsistence level was 142.2 GEL, while it was 137.8 GEL at the same time last year.

For an average family the minimum subsistence level reached 269.3 GEL – up about three percent on April 2014 when the same data was 261 GEL.

As for households, the minimum amount of money needed to survive was:

• For a one-person household – 142.2 GEL
• For a two-person household – 227.5 GEL
• For a three-person household – 255.9 GEL
• For a four-person household – 284.4 GEL
• For a five-person household – 319.9 GEL
• For a six or more person household – 378.2 GEL

Meanwhile, Geostat revealed in April 2015 the monthly inflation rate in Georgia reached 0.3 percent, while the annual inflation rate equalled 2.5 percent.

This was a reduction on March figures, where the monthly inflation rate reached 1.2 percent and the annual inflation rate equalled 2.6 percent.

Geostat data revealed in the past month the cost of milk, cheese, eggs dropped by 2.7 percent and vegetables were found to be 2.6 percent cheaper.