Baghdad – IA
Today, Wednesday, the Ministry of Planning revealed the size of inflation for the month of January.
The ministry stated in a statement, received by the (INA), that “the monthly inflation index for last January rose by 0.9% compared to the previous month,” indicating that “the annual inflation index also rose by 3.3% compared to the same month of the year.” 2020″.
He pointed out that “the inflation index rose during the period from November 2020 to January 2021, by 4.2%.”
He added, “The increase in the dollar exchange rates since mid-December 2020 caused a devaluation of the local currency and an increase in the prices of goods and services because most of these local goods are imported.”
The statement indicated that “the increase in the monthly inflation index for December was concentrated in the rise in the goods and services section, an increase of 2.1% due to the rise in gold prices throughout Iraq.”
He continued, “The health department also witnessed an increase of 1.3% as a result of an increase in the main group of medical products and services, which include pharmaceutical products such as treatment for blood pressure and diabetes, an increase in the doctor’s fees in private clinics, and an increase in the fees for private hospital services.”
He explained, “The housing department recorded an increase of 1.4% due to an increase in the water and electricity supply group, the fuel group, and the rent group by about 0.2%,” noting, “The education department also recorded an increase as a result of the increase in the private lessons department in a number of governorates.”
The statement confirmed, “The increase in the annual index for the month of January compared to the same month of January 2020 was the result of an increase in the tobacco section by 11.2%. The housing section also recorded an annual increase of 0.3%, and the health section recorded an annual increase of 13.6%.”
He added, “The Transportation Department recorded an annual increase of 9.7%, the Communications Department recorded an annual increase of 5.8%, while the Entertainment and Culture Department recorded an annual increase of 11.1%, and the Services and Goods Department recorded an annual increase of 13.7%.”