The consumer price index (CPI) for general households increased by 5.2 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010, the Singapore Department of Statistics said in a statement today.
The lowest 20 per cent income group experienced a lower increase in consumer prices at 4.7 per cent, compared to the middle 60 per cent and highest 20 per cent income groups, which experienced CPI inflation of 5.1 per cent and 5.7 per cent respectively.
The main contributors to CPI inflation for all the three income groups included accommodation costs and food. Higher car prices also contributed to higher CPIs for the middle 60 per cent and highest 20 per cent income groups.
Excluding imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation, the CPI for general households rose by 4.2 per cent. The corresponding consumer price increases experienced by the lowest 20 per cent, middle 60 per cent and highest 20 per cent income groups in 2011 were 2.2 per cent, 3.8 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively.
During the second half of 2011, the CPI for general households rose by 5.5 per cent over the same period in 2010.
CPI is used as a measure of consumer price inflation by measuring price changes in a fixed basket of consumption goods and services purchased by households over time.
The yearly CPI is derived by taking a simple average of the 12 months' indices for the year.
