Panama Consumer Prices
Increase Again
The Consumer Price Index
in Panama increased 5.2
percent at the end of
September, compared to
the same month of 2006,
according to data
published on Tuesday by
the Comptroller's Office
of the Republic.
Transportation, with an
8.8 percent increase,
housing with 3.7,
education with 3.2, and
health with 2.4, are
among the main causes
for the new hike in the
cost of life.
The increase of the CPI
in September was 0.5
percent, according to
the same source, while
4.2 percent was
accumulated in the first
nine months of the
present year.
Panamanian Economist
College President Adolfo
Quintero said the upward
trend in prices is due
to external and internal
factors.
Among the external
factors, the price of
oil and its derivatives,
as well as an increase
in the demand of
products, due to the
world economic growth,
Quitero told La Prensa
Daily.
On the domestic front,
he mentioned the
existence of food
hoarding and speculation
in sales. |
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