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Transportation and Food Boost
Inflation
During the last 12 months,
transportation and food account
for the heaviest blows to Costa
Rican pockets.
Between April 2004 and last
month, transportation - which
includes fuels, bus and taxi
fares - increased 18 percent,
while food went 16 percent up in
the same period.
Generally speaking, the consumer
index increased by 0.96 percent
in April as compared to March,
and took inflation to 4.93
percent the first four months in
2005, and to 13.66 percent in
the 12 months that ended in
April.
The increase in food is the
source of most worries, since it
is the sector to which families
dedicate the largest chunk of
their income.
In addition, the essential food
items, those in the so-called
Basic Basket, went 21 percent up
last March, as compared to the
same month in 2004.
Analysts, such as economist
Felix Delgado, foresee that this
year a larger number of families
will not have enough money to
buy their food and address other
basic needs, therefore joining
the ranks of the poor.
The continued rise in the price
of oil, and therefore of fuels,
is blamed for the trend.
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