The general cost of living index for August 2011 reached 136.5 from 135.8 in July, registering a slight rise (0.5 percent) in the index. The Central Statistics Department attributed this to the rise in two of the major groups forming the record figure for the cost of living indices. The food and drinks group and renovation, rents, fuel and water group witnessed a 1.5 percent and 0.7 percent rise respectively. Four of the major groups forming the record figure for the cost of living indices witnessed a decrease. These include the education and recreation group with 0.2 percent; textiles, clothes and shoes group with 0.1 percent; home furniture group with 0.1 percent; and other commodities and services with 0.1 percent. The medical care group was stable, while the transport and telecommunications group remained at their previous price level. The cost of living index for August 2011 compared to August 2010 registered a record rise of 4.8 percent and this is attributed to the rise witnessed by the major groups. The group of other commodities and services registered an 8.2 percent rise when compared to that of last year, while renovation, rents, fuel and water group registered a 7.8 percent rise; foods and drinks group witnessed a rise of 5.4 percent; transport and telecommunications group, an increase of 2.1 percent; education and recreation group, a rise of 1.0 percent; textiles, clothes and shoes group, a rise of 0.5 percent; medical care, a rise of 0.4 percent; and home furniture group, a rise of 0.2 percent.
