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The National Statistics Office has reported that in April, the Retail Price Index went up to 103.89 from 103.13 in March 2011.

In April, the Retail Price Index went up by 0.74 per cent. This primarily reflected an increase of 4.86 per cent in the Clothing and Footwear Index, mainly due to seasonally higher prices of garments. Higher furniture prices caused the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index to go up by 2.08 per cent.

An increase of 0.98 per cent was registered in the Transport and Communication Index, mainly on account of a rise in fuel prices. Higher prices of materials used for the maintenance and repair of dwellings underlay an upward movement of 0.81 per cent in the Housing Index. Costlier jewellery items caused the Other Goods and Services Index to go up by 0.37 per cent. The Recreation and Culture Index edged up by 0.21 per cent, mainly due to higher tuition and school fees. A rise of 0.13 per cent was recorded in the Beverages and Tobacco Index, mainly on account of higher prices of non-alcoholic beverages.

The Food Index registered a decline of 0.18 per cent, mainly due to lower prices of fruit and vegetables.

In April, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.10 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.42 per cent.