The cost of living index in Palestine is rising

Ramallah - Ma'an - The Central Bureau of Statistics said that the consumer price index in Palestine recorded an increase of 0.83% during June 2024 compared to May 2024, by 91.1% in the Gaza Strip, despite a decrease of 0.16% in Jerusalem, and by 0.10% in the West Bank. The statistics explained in a press statement today, Sunday, that the cost of living index for the Gaza Strip recorded a sharp increase of 247% from October 7, 2023 until the end of June, as a result of the ongoing occupation aggression on the Strip, with the index remaining stable in the West Bank for the same period. The price increase in Palestine resulted from a 6.84% increase in the prices of fresh fruits, 1.80% in vegetable oils, 1.65% in liquid fuels used as a fuel for cars (diesel), and 0.63% in fresh meat, despite a 41.78% decrease in the prices of sugar substitutes and other sugars, 37.40% in dried vegetables, 33.35% in eggs, 22.23% in potatoes, 21.18% in liquid fuels used as a fuel for cars (gasoline), 15.28% in dried legumes, and 6.86% in fresh vegetables. When comparing prices during June 2024 with June 2023, the data indicates an increase in the consumer price index in Palestine by 54.04% (by 254.45% in the Gaza Strip, by 4.31% in Jerusalem, and by 2.42% in the West Bank). The cost of living index for the Gaza Strip rose, and the consumer price index in the Gaza Strip recorded an increase of 1.91% during the month of June 2024 compared to the month of May 2024. The main reason for the rise in the cost of living index in the Gaza Strip is the rise in prices of goods in the following subgroups, despite the decline in other subgroups: The prices of the following commodities in the Gaza Strip rose to an average of: a gas cylinder 850 shekels/12 kg, a pot of tobacco 4100 shekels/1 kg, diesel 69 shekels/1 liter, coal 71 shekels/1 kg, mineral water 4 shekels/1 liter, lemons 20 shekels/1 kg, oranges 16 shekels/1 kg, bananas 12.5 shekels/1 kg, grapes 29 shekels/1 kg, apples 17 shekels/1 kg, corn oil 52.5 shekels/3 liters, pasta 7 shekels /350 g, and children's cereals with wheat and milk 21 shekels/400 g, noting that the price levels of these commodities are still much higher than they were before the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. The consumer price index in Jerusalem recorded a decrease of 0.16% during June 2024 compared to May 2024, as a result of a decrease in the prices of fresh vegetables by 6.90%, liquid fuels used as fuel for cars (diesel) by 4.67%, gasoline by 4.34%, and vegetable oils by 2.71%, despite the increase in the prices of dried vegetables by 7.97%, coffee by 6.23%, fresh chicken by 4.08%, potatoes by 2.99%, eggs by 2.27%, and cereal flour (white flour) by 1.53%. The prices of the following goods decreased in Jerusalem, reaching an average of: large bunch tomatoes 5 shekels/1kg, large eggplant 9 shekels/1kg, cauliflower 7 shekels/1kg, diesel 7.35 shekels/1liter, gasoline "95" 7.74 shekels/1liter, and sunflower oil 35 shekels/3liter. The consumer price index in the West Bank recorded a decre ase of 0.10% during June 2024 compared to May 2024, due to a decrease in the prices of fresh vegetables by 9.91%, liquid fuels used as fuel for cars (diesel) by 2.82%, gasoline by 1.04%, fresh fruits by 1.94%, and fresh chicken by 1.22%, despite the increase in egg prices by 20.32%, potato prices by 2.16%, and fresh meat by 1.22%. The prices of the following commodities decreased in the West Bank, reaching an average of: large bunch tomatoes and large eggplants at 4 shekels/1kg each, hot green peppers at 7 shekels/1kg, diesel at 6.21 shekels/1liter, gasoline "95" at 7.30 shekels/1liter, bananas at 3 shekels/1kg, and fresh chicken at 17 shekels/1kg. Source: Maan News Agency