in Q2 2019, consumer prices on Saba 0.5 percent up

In Q2 2019, consumer prices on Saba were on average 0.5 percent up on the previous year, versus 0.6 percent in Q1. The price development of building materials curbed consumer price inflation. In Q2, these goods were up by 3 percent year-on-year while in Q1 they were still over 6 percent more expensive. The price development of petrol slowed down the consumer price increase as well. Food products such as fresh vegetables, on the other hand, became more expensive.

In Q2 2019, consumer goods and services on Bonaire were 1.1 percent more expensive than one year previously. In the first quarter, consumers paid 0.7 percent more than in the same period last year. Prices also rose on St Eustatius and Saba, by 0.4 percent and 0.5 percent year-on-year respectively. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the basis of new figures on consumer prices.

The increase in the average price level of goods and services on Bonaire is mainly caused by the development of food and electricity prices. Both fresh fruit and vegetables were more expensive in Q2, by over 22 and 4 percent respectively year-on-year. Current prices of fresh fruit and vegetables are at their highest level since CBS started publishing the consumer price index in 2010. Electricity prices remained the same in Q2 relative to the previous quarter, but they did increase by almost 8 percent year-on-year.

In Q2 2019, consumers on St Eustatius paid on average 0.4 percent more for goods and services than in the same period last year. This was still 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2019. Potatoes were 4 percent cheaper than one year previously. The price development of toiletries had a downward effect on consumer price inflation as well.

RCN

Provisional figures

Figures referring to Q2 2019 are provisional and will be definitive upon publication of the figures over Q3 2019.