The Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI) revealed in its monthly section the corner of the CPI, the figures concerning the rate of inflation last March, throughout the territory. This accelerated during the month in question, showing a monthly rate of 4.7% against 3.1% in February and recording a rate of 26.7% year-on-year.
Regions of the southern peninsula of the country, including the departments of Grand’Anse, Sud and Nippes, show the most exacerbated increase in the inflation rate, 28.3% with a variation of 4.8 over one month where the General Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 406.2 compared to 387.6 in February and 375.6 in January 2024.
At the same time, there is the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and the South East which show 28.1% with a monthly variation of 4.7%. Areas like Port-au-Prince, Delmas, Pétion-Ville, Carrefour, Tabarre, Cité Soleil and Croix des Bouquets record a rate of 25.9%, the departments of North, North-East and North-West 26.2% and the departments of Center and Artibonite, having posted the lowest rate, including 25.8%.
“The products which mainly influenced the annual shift of the CPI are: Food products and non-alcoholic drinks: Rice (on average 49.5%), Corn (on average 38.3%), Millet (37%), Meat (on average 38.5%) %), Fresh fish (59.7%), Herring (on average 51.8%), Edible oil (50.5%) and Lemon (77.3%). Clothing and footwear: Clothing making (27.4%), Dress (28%), Shirt (24.9%) and Sock (26.2%). Housing, water, gas, electricity and other fuels: Housing rent (36.3%), Water (20.8%) and Charcoal (25.5%). Furniture, household items and routine home maintenance: Living room furniture (30.2%), Curtains (21.2%) and Fan (31%). Restaurants: Meals taken outside (22.5%),” the institute said in its report. Further, technicians announce that the prices of local and imported products have increased by 26.8% and 26.5% respectively, year-on-year.
Indeed, the rise in insecurity in recent weeks has had serious consequences on the country’s economy and all sectors of social activity. The events produced by armed groups from February to April further increased the cost of living and increased the number of people affected by food insecurity. Aside from the pronounced insecurity in recent weeks, the scarcity of petroleum products observed in recent days may also amplify the country’s economic situation.
Oberde Charles
