Abu Dhabi Prices Rise 1.1% In Q1

Consumer prices in Abu Dhabi rose 1.1 per cent year-in-year during the first quarter of this year, driven by increasing food prices, according to a report released by the Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi (SCAD).

The food and non-alcoholic beverages segment accounted for 73.9 per cent of the increase in the consumer price index (CPI) index, said the report.

Within the segment, the highest price rises were recorded in the fish and seafood subgroup, up 13.8 per cent, the meat subgroup, which rose by 11.5 per cent and coffee, tea and cocoa, which increased by 9.9 per cent.

Average prices in the restaurants and hotels segment also went up 12.2 per cent during the first quarter of the year, said the report.

It added that prices in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels segment fell 0.9 per cent during the period.

SCAD’s report also found indicated that consumer prices for national citizens and shared households during the first four months of 2012 rose 1.3 per cent, while prices for non-national households increased 0.8 per cent.

Inflation in Abu Dhabi increased 1.9 per cent in 2011, higher than the average 0.9 per cent inflation recorded by the UAE as a whole last year.