The overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Palestine during February 2016 decreased by 0.26% compared with January 2016 (by 0.56% in the West Bank**, by 0.51% in Jerusalem J1*, and with a slight decreased by 0.04% in Gaza Strip).

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the decrease in the overall CPI for Palestine is due to the decrease in the price of potatoes and other tubers by 10.69%, the price of fresh vegetables by 9.56%, the price of liquid fuel for houses by 2.28%, the price of eggs by 1.59%, the price of liquid fuel for cars by 1.24%, and the price of fresh meat by 1.12%. The decrease in the CPI occurred despite the increase in the price of dried vegetables by 12.56%, the price of fresh fruit by 3.81%, and the price of fresh poultry by 2.19%.

The CPI during February 2016 increased by 0.88% compared with February 2015 (by 1.58% in the West Bank**, by 0.51% in Gaza Strip, while it decreased by 1.59% in Jerusalem J1*).

The CPI for Different Palestinian Regions

The CPI decreased by 0.56% in the West Bank during February 2016 compared with January 2016, due to the decrease in the price of fresh vegetables by 15.84%, the price of tubers by 9.66% the price of liquid fuel for houses by 2.29%, the price of liquid fuel for cars by 1.33%, and the price of fresh meat by 0.71%. The decrease in the CPI occurred despite the increase in the price of fresh vegetables by 5.07%, the price of fresh poultry by 3.31%, the price of eggs by 2.07%, and the price of fresh vegetables by 1.81%.

In Jerusalem J1*, the CPI decreased by 0.51%, due to the decrease in the price of fresh vegetables by 13.85%, the price of tubers by 13.33%, the price of dried vegetables by 5.49%, the price of liquid fuel for houses by 2.15%, and the price of liquid fuel for cars by 1.01%. The decrease in the CPI occurred despite the increase in the price of fresh meat by 1.14%.

The CPI marked a slight decrease by 0.04% in the Gaza Strip, due to the decrease in the price of tubers by 12.22%, the price of eggs by 7.35%, the price fresh meat by 2.43%, the price of liquid fuel for houses by 2.29%, and the price of liquid fuel for cars by 1.33%. The decrease in the CPI occurred despite the increase in the price of dried vegetables by 21.79%, the price of fresh fruit by 9.14%, the price of imported cigarettes by 3.52%, and the price of gas by 1.58%. 

(Palestine Economy Portal)