Food, clothing, health-related costs rise in Georgia

Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate, milk, cheese, eggs and vegetables – buying these food items is more expensive in Georgia now than a month ago.

Prices of some basic foods, clothing and footwear and also health-related costs rose in October, showed latest inflation data released today by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

The monthly inflation rate was mainly influenced by price increases for the following goods:

• Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (5.3 percent)
• Milk, cheese and eggs (3 percent)
• Vegetables (1.8 percent)
• Food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.7 percent)

On the other hand last month prices decreased 9.6 percent for fruit and grapes.

As for health-related costs, last month prices for these goods and services rose two percent; especially for the subgroup of medical products, appliances and equipment where prices were 8.6 percent higher in October.

Also last month the cost of clothing and footwear was up three percent. In particular, the cost of footwear jumped 10.2 percent, said Geostat.

In general Georgia’s monthly inflation rates amounted to 0.5 percent in October, while the annual inflation rate (Consumer Price Index change) decreased 0.2 percent, said the statistics agency.