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In Q4 2018, consumer prices on Saba were back at the level of one year previously. In the preceding quarter, consumers on Saba paid 4.4 percent more for goods and services year-on-year. On Bonaire, prices in Q4 2018 were 3.4 percent up on the previous year, while prices rose by 1.1 percent on St Eustatius. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the basis of the Caribbean Netherlands consumer price index (CPI).
In the period in Q4 2017 immediately following Hurricane Irma, prices of many goods and services on Saba rose considerably; the average price level still saw a modest increase in the ensuing period, but the trend came to a halt in Q4 2018 as consumer prices fell to their lowest level of the entire year, ending at exactly the same level as one year previously. Saba’s telephone and internet services saw a 13.0 percent price decrease last year while foodstuffs dropped in price by 2.0 percent on average. On the other hand, materials for maintenance and repair of dwellings became 4.7 percent more expensive while clothing and footwear prices rose as well.
Consumer prices on Bonaire up 3.4 percent
In Q4 2018, households on Bonaire paid 3.4 percent more for goods and services year-on-year, against 3.5 percent more year-on-year in Q3. The increase in average price level was slowed down by the price development of petrol. On the other hand, the price development of furniture and fresh fruit pushed up the consumer price index; fruit became 4.4 percent more expensive than one year previously.
Vegetables cheaper on St Eustatius
In Q4 2018, prices of goods and services on St Eustatius were up by 1.1 percent year-on-year, similar to the increase in Q3. Clothing and footwear as well as potatoes became more expensive, which had an upward effect on the consumer price index. In 2018, potatoes went up in price by 13.3 percent. Prices of fresh vegetables dropped by 9.6 percent, curbing the consumer price index.
Average price development 2018
The average consumer price level on Bonaire in 2018 was 3.4 percent up year-on-year. On Saba, prices were 2.6 percent up; St Eustatius saw on average the smallest consumer price increase at 1.3 percent.
Provisional figures
Figures referring to Q4 2018 and to the year 2018 are provisional and will become definitive upon publication of the figures over Q1 2019.
Source: StatLine: Caribbean Netherlands
https://opendata.cbs.nl/#/CBS/en/dataset/84046ENG/table?ts=1548259135450
Papiamentu
A Papiamentu translation of this news release can be obtained from Statistics Netherlands’ office on Bonaire by sending a request via email to: caribischnederland@cbs.nl