Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of November, 2012

Percentage changes in the CPI

During the first eleven months of 2012, the average consumer prices rose by 1.2% compared with the same period of 2011, with the CPI for the first eleven months of 2012 at 122.9 points, compared with 121.5 points for the same period of 2011. This rise in prices reflects the net change in the consumer basket prices (resulting from upward and downward movement) during the two periods compared.

Average CPI for the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011 the twelve major expenditure groups, as per the Classification of Individual Consumption according to Purpose (COICOP), and the Weight or relative importance of each one of the main expenditure groups. The Weight of any group is the households’ expenditure on that group as a proportion of total expenditure on all groups. The table also shows the relative change, which is the percentage rate of change in the prices of any given group for the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011. The percentage contribution reflects the expenditure group’s contribution to the overall change in the prices of all groups, which is 1.2%.

The “Restaurants and hotels” group, accounting for 50.4% of the increase. This contribution resulted mainly from an increase of 16.5% in the prices of this group.

The second highest contributor to the overall increase in the CPI over the first eleven months of 2012 was the “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” group which accounted for the largest rise in the index during the first eleven months 2012 compared with the same period of 2011, contributing 49.4% to the change. Rises in the “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” group came as a result of increases in the prices of most subgroups included in this group. The prices of “Coffee, tea and cocoa” subgroups rose by 7.9%, “Meat” by 6.0%, “Oil and fats” by 6.1% “Vegetables” by 5.5%, and “Fish and seafood” by 5.3%.”

The “Education” group accounted for 12.4% of the overall increase occurring during the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011.

The prices of “Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance” rose by 2.8% during the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011. This group contributed 11.5% of the total increase achieved by all groups.

Among the main groups that slowed down the rise in consumer prices during the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011, was the “Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” group which contributed -44.8%.The prices of this group decreased by 1.3%.

CPI of November 2012

Comparing the CPI of November 2012 with the CPI of November 2011

The average consumer prices increased by 0.8% in November 2012 compared with November 2011, with the CPI at 123.6 points in November 2012, up from 122.6 points in November 2011. This increase in prices was due to the net movement (increases and decreases) of consumer prices during the mentioned months.

The most significant groups, which experienced increases in prices during November 2012 compared with November 2011, were the “Restaurants and hotels” group with a 14.5% increase, followed by “Clothing and footwear” with 4.0% and “Alcoholic beverages and tobacco” with 11.7% and “Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance” with 1.7%. Over the same period, the “Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels” group decreased by 1.3%.

Comparing the CPI of November 2012 with the CPI of October 2012

The average consumer prices decreased by 0.1% in November 2012 compared with October 2012. This overall decrease in prices between the two months reflects the net movement (increases and decreases) of consumer prices during the periods compared.

CPI by household welfare level

Comparing the average CPI by household welfare level for the first eleven months of 2012 with the same period of 2011

The rise of 1.2% in consumer prices during the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011, resulted in a surge of 1.4% in consumer prices for households of the bottom welfare quintile for the same period of comparison. The corresponding rise for other welfare levels was 1.1% for households of the top quintile and 1.3% for the middle quintile. Table (4) shows the average CPI values and percentage change, detailed by household welfare level for the first eleven months of 2011 and 2012.

Comparing the average CPI by household welfare level for November 2012 with November 2011

The rise in consumer prices in November 2012 by 0.8% compared with November 2011 caused a rise in consumer prices for households in the bottom welfare quintile by 1.0% and top welfare quintile by 0.8%, while prices increased for households in the middle quintile by 0.7%.

Comparing the average CPI by household welfare level for November 2012 with October 2012

In November 2012 consumer prices decreased by 0.1% compared with October 2012. This caused a decrease of 0.1 in consumer prices for households in the bottom and middle and top welfare quintile.

CPI by household type

Comparing the average CPI by household type for the first eleven months of 2012 with the same period of 2011

The 1.2% rise in consumer prices for the first eleven months of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011, pushed up consumer prices for citizen households by 1.3%, non-citizen households by 1.0% and share households by 1.7%.

Comparing the average CPI by household type for the month of November 2012 with November 2011

The 0.8% rise in consumer prices in November 2012 compared with November 2011 caused a 0.7% rise in consumer prices for citizen and for non-citizen households by 0.8% during the same period, while prices for share households increased by 1.6%.

Comparing the average CPI by household type for the month of November 2012 with October 2012

The 0.1% decreased in consumer prices in November 2012 compared with October 2012 caused a 0.1% decreased in consumer prices for citizen and non-citizen and share households during the same period.

SCAD’s CPI report compiled in conformity with the highest technical standards:

In preparing its monthly CPI reports, Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi follows the methodologies adopted internationally in this field, using a broad and highly representative basket of goods and service, to ensure accuracy in the calculation of the index, which is the sole officially authorized source for monitoring changes in prices and inflation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

SCAD has recently developed the computing of the CPI so that it is compiled according to households’ types and levels of welfare. As for the welfare level approach, the population is divided into five segments (quintiles) representing five levels of welfare, based on average per capita annual expenditure. Each quintile reflects the consumption pattern represented by that quintile. In regard to the household type approach, the population is divided into three types of households as set out in the results of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (2007-2008), namely, national, non-national and collective households.

To represent all regions of the Emirate, the selected sample of items included in the Consumer Price Index basket uses actual data from the 2007 household income and expenditure survey. The sample of outlets were selected in such a way as to represent points of purchase for a large base of consumers all over the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, taking into account the geographical distribution of sources within the emirate.