Inflation rose to 4.3% by April 2022 in Trinidad and Tobago,, according to new findings released by the Central Statistical Office.  The Inflation Rate for the comparative period, January to April 2021/January to April 2020, was 0.9%.

The All Items Index of Retail Prices calculated from the prices collected for the month of April 2022 was 115.9, representing an increase of 1.5 points or 1.3%

The Index for Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages increased from 129.3 in March 2022 to 130.0 in April 2022, reflecting an increase of 0.5%.

Contributing significantly to this increase was the general upward movement in the prices of whole chickens – fresh;  parboiled rice; other chilled or frozen chicken; table margarine; other edible oil; soya bean oil; eddoes; oranges; whole chickens – frozen; and carite – fresh. However, the full impact of these price increases was offset by the general decreases in the prices of brown sugar; king fish – fresh; hot peppers; chive; tomatoes; grapes; powdered milk – full cream; bodi; sweet potatoes; and ochroes.

A further review of the data for April 2022 compared with March 2022 reflected increases in the sub-indices for Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels of 1.5%, Furnishings, Household Equipment & Routine Maintenance of the House of 1.2%, Transport of 3.8%, Recreation and Culture of 2.4%, Hotels, Cafes and Restaurants of 2.4%,

and Miscellaneous Goods and Services of 0.7%. However, decreases were noted in sub-indices for Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of 0.2%, Clothing and Footwear of 1.0%, Health of 0.4% and Communication of 0.8%. All other sections remained unchanged.