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Jerusalem,
March 15, 2018
079/2018
Increase of 0.1% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), February 2018
- The CPI increased 0.1% in February 2018 compared to January 2018. It was 100.0 points, compared to 99.9 points in the previous month(base: average 2016 = 100.0 points). The CPI excluding housinghas alsoincreased 0.1% and was 99.2 points.In contrast,The CPI excluding vegetables and fruit and the CPI excluding energy decreased 0.1% each and were 100.0 and 99.6 points, respectively.
- Prices of the following items increased in particular:fresh fruit 9.4% and transport 0.8%.
- Prices of the following items decreased in particular:clothing and footwear4.6%, fresh vegetables 2.2% and communication 1.3%.
- Since the start of the year, the CPI decreased 0.4%. The CPI excluding fruits and vegetables, and the CPI excluding energy decreased 0.5% each and the CPI excluding housing decreased 0.2%.
- Over the past 12 months (February 2018 compared to February 2017), the CPI increased 0.2%;the CPI excluding vegetables and fruit increased 0.3%;the CPI excluding energy increased 0.1%;in contrast, the CPI excluding housing decreased 0.3%.
- The seasonally adjusted CPI,the seasonally adjusted CPI excluding housing and the seasonally adjusted CPI excluding vegetables, fruit and housingincreased 0.2% each in February 2018.
- Based on the trend data for the period November 2017 – February 2018, the annual pace of increase in the CPI and for the CPI excluding housing was 0.9% each .The annual pace of increase for theCPI excluding vegetables, fruit and housing was 1.2%.
Please note: This Press Release is for PublicationAfter 18:30 PM on Thursday, March15, 2018
Diagram 1 – Monthly Percentage Change in CPI duringthe Past 12 Months
Diagram 2 – CPI 12-Month Inflation Rate for the Past 10 YearsProduct and Service Groups that Particularly Influenced the Index This Month:
Contribution to Index's Percentage Change / Percentage Change / Product/Service Group0.0857 / 9.4 / fresh fruit
0.0701 / 1.8 / expenditures for travel abroad and domestic flights
0.0546 / 1.6 / vehicle fuel and lubricants
0.0324 / 2.9 / chicken and parts thereof
0.0278- / 2.2- / fresh vegetables
0.0321- / 1.4- / telephone and Internet services and communications products
0.0721- / 0.4- / owned dwellings services
0.1255- / 5.3- / clothing
Major Changes in Primary Consumption Items
Food (excluding vegetables and fruit)
The food price index increased 0.3%.
The following increased in particular:natural fruit juices(4.8%),tahini(3.6%),prepared vegetable salads(3.6%),chicken and parts thereof(2.9%),jam and confiture(2.0%),cultured milk and yogurt(1.9%),pastry products(1.8%),vinegar, mustard, sauces, and dressings(1.6%),other special bread(1.5%),non-kosher processed meat products(1.4%),mayonnaise(1.4%),fresh and frozen meat substitutes and products thereof(1.3%),halvah, all types(1.3%) and canned and processed fish(1.1%).
The following decreased in particular:baking and cake decorating products(2.2%),rolls, bagels, and baguettes(2.1%),biscuits, cakes, cookies, etc.(1.9%),wine(1.8%),ice cream and popsicles(1.3%),sugar(1.2%),flour(1.1%),baby food(1.1%) and brined cheese(1.0%).
Vegetables and Fruit
The vegetables and fruit index increased 2.3%.
The fresh vegetables index decreased 2.2%; In contrast the fresh fruit index increased 9.4%.The frozen, pickled and canned vegetables index increased 0.7% andthe dried andcanned fruit index increased 1.4%.
Among the fresh vegetables, the following decreased in particular: artichoke(16.9%),kohlrabi(13.2%),tomatoes(9.3%),fennel(8.0%),cabbage(6.1%),beets(5.5%),cucumbers(5.1%),onions(4.3%),leaf vegetables(3.9%),broccoli(3.9%),squash(1.7%),garlic(1.6%),sprouts(1.6%) and carrots(1.3%).
The following increased in particular: eggplant(9.6%),peppers(6.5%),fresh beans(3.0%),potatos and sweet potatos(2.3%) and cauliflower(2.1%).
Among the fresh fruit, the following increased in particular:strawberries(rose 42.7% compared to April 2017),bananas(22.9%),apples(5.1%),avocados(3.9%),oranges(3.3%),pomegranates(1.7%),pears(1.6%) and clementine(1.2%).
The following decreased in particular: lemons(6.0%),pomelos(1.5%) and grapefruit(1.3%).
Among the processed vegetables and fruit, the following increased in particular: other pickled vegetables(2.9%),dried fruit(2.9%),walnuts and pistachio nuts(2.5%),olives(2.2%) and canned tomatoes and tomato puree(1.3%).
The following decreased in particular:seeds(1.5%) and frozen potatoes(1.1%).
Housing
The housing price index decreased 0.3%.
The owned dwellings services indexdecreased 0.4%;in contrastthe rent index increased 0.1%.
Owned Dwellings Services
The owned dwellings services index showed adecrease in February 2018 compared to January 2018. This decrease reflects the changes in rental prices set in contracts signed in January 2018–February 2018, compared to contracts signed in December2017–January 2018.
Change in prices of the market of dwellings that are not included in the Consumer Price Index[1]
Indices of Prices of Dwellings (change in prices, with deduction of change in quality of the mix and in type of dwellings):
A comparison of the transactions during December 2017–January 2018 to the transactions during November 2017–December 2017 shows that dwelling prices decreased 1.0%[2].
A comparison of the transactions during the current period compared to the same period last year, i. e., December 2017–January 2018 compared to December2016–January 2017, showed that dwelling prices increased 1.2%2.
Note that the index of prices of dwellings that was published last year did not include the new explanatory variables that were added to the statistical model used to calculate the index1.
A comparison of the transactions during December 2017–January 2018 to the transactions during November 2017–December 2017 shows that new dwelling prices decreased 2.1%2.Government-supported transactions included in the calculation of the index of new dwellings constituted 19.8%2 of the number of transactions, compared to 25.1%2 in the previous month.
A comparison of the transactions during December 2017–January 2018 to the transactions during November 2017–December 2017 shows that the prices of new dwellings by district changed as follows: Jerusalem (-3.1%2), Northern (-1.6%2), Haifa (-0.4%2), Central (-0.3%2), Tel Aviv(-0.8%2) and Southern (-0.3%2).
Dwelling Maintenance
The dwelling maintenance index decreased 0.1%.
The following decreased in particular:deodorizers(4.9%) and dishwashing products(3.2%).
The following increased in particular:liquid and powdered laundry detergent(4.1%), kerosene and diesel oil for heating(2.4%) and plumbing services(1.3%).
Furniture and Household Equipment
The furniture and household equipment index increased 0.4%.
The following increased in particular:home decorations(3.0%), eating utensils(1.9%) and closets, buffets, shelves, dressers, etc.(1.3%).
The following decreased in particular: bedding and towels(4.5%), dishwasher(1.5%), heating stoves(1.2%), other household electrical equipment(1.1%), other equipment for babies(1.0%) and deep freezer(1.0%).
Clothing and Footwear
The clothing and footwear index decreased 4.6%; the seasonally adjusted index increased 0.8%.
The clothing index decreased 5.3% and the footwear index decreased 1.9%.
Among clothing items, the following decreased in particular:outerwear(6.0%), sports and exercise clothes(5.4%), miscellaneous clothing such ashats, scarves, and ties(4.3%)and underwear (4.1%).
The following increased in particular:socks(1.1%).
Among footwear items, the following decreased in particular:men‘s footwear(2.1%), women‘s footwear (2.0%)andchildren‘s footwear (1.0%).
Health
The health index remained unchanged.
The following increased in particular:body hygiene products(3.8%), oral hygiene products(2.6%) and dietary supplements(1.1%).
The following decreased in particular:fashion sunglasses(4.3%).
Education, Culture and Entertainment
The education, culture and entertainment index increased 0.2%.
The education services index remained unchanged; in contrastthe culture and entertainment index increased 0.3%.
The following increased in particular: hotels and guest houses(4.0%),tuition for preparatory courses for screening exams(1.1%),performances and concerts, sporting events, cinema, etc.(1.1%) and pets and associated products(1.1%).
The following decreased in particular: sports equipment and accessories(2.5%) andfiction books(1.0%).
Transport and Communication
The transport and communication index increased 0.6%.
The transport index increased 0.8%; in contrastthe communication index decreased 1.3%.
The following increased in particular: expenditures for travel abroad and domestic flights(1.8%) andvehicle fuel and lubricants(1.6%).
The following decreased in particular: car rental for domestic travel(5.6%) andtelephone and Internet services and communications products(1.4%).
Miscellaneous
The miscellaneous index decreased 0.1%.
The following decreased in particular: creams, perfume, and facial products(4.4%),bags, school bags, etc.(1.9%) anddiapering products and accessories for babies(1.0%).
The following increased in particular:hair products and accessories(4.3%) andtoiletries and bath products(2.7%).
1
[1]For explanations, see Appendix 1.3 to the CBS's Price Statistics Monthly, "Methodology for Calculating the Index of Prices of Dwellings, and Quarterly and Annual Averages".
[2]The datum is not final because additional transactions were carried out during this period but not yet reported.