The National Administrative Department of Statistics, Dane, announced yesterday that the Consumer Price Index, CPI, was 7.16% for May, that is, the same data that it showed in April of this year, which brought it to a screeching halt. . Inflation came from 13 consecutive months of deceleration since March of last year when the rate measured by Dane went from 13.28% to 13.34%.
However, In its annual comparison, the data for May was significantly lower than that of the same month of 2023, when it was recorded at 12.36%.
The monthly data for May This year it was 0.43%, also the same as for May 2023. And so far in 2024 the cost of living registered a cumulative 3.78%.
The annual variation was led by education (11.42%), restaurants and hotels (9.76%), and accommodation, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (9.14%). Other sectors that had a strong increase in May were transportation (9.07%) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (8.59%), which were above the national average.
In contrast, the health divisions (6.67%), miscellaneous goods and services (5.40%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.40%), clothing and footwear (3.34%), had more moderate increases.
Those that increased the least were furniture, household items and for ordinary home maintenance (3.26%) and recreation and culture (1.98%). The information and communication sector (-0.19%) was the only one that had a reduction in its prices during May.
Taking into account the monthly variation, that is, comparing May versus April of this year the public services category, Among them, accommodation, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was what influenced inflation the most (0.74%), followed by the division of restaurants and hotels (0.65%) and, finally, food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.51%). Below the monthly rate were: miscellaneous goods and services (0.42%), health (0.36%), clothing and footwear (0.20%), furniture and household items (0.13 %).
Recreation and culture (-0.02%), transportation (-0.05%) and information and communication (-0.16%) registered a monthly reduction in their prices.
When analyzing by city, Valledupar (9.01%) and Sincelejo (8.48%) were the capitals with the highest inflation during May. Eight other capital cities were above the national rate, including Cartagena (8.15%), Barranquilla (8.08%) and Bogotá (7.24%), which registered a figure slightly above the average for the entire country. .
While, among the cities with the lowest inflation for the fifth month of the year were Villavicencio (5.45%%), Popayán (5.79%) and Neiva (6.11%).
Although inflation remained stable in May, analysts expect it to continue to decline in the coming months. According to the president of Anif, José Ignacio López, “We must put a magnifying glass on the inflation figures in the rental area,” which continued to rise in May.
The monthly variation in inflation was 0.43% according to the report of the administrative department of statistics.
