MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Negative inflation in Chile.

The Chilean Consumers Price Index contracted 0,1% last February and accumulates minus 0,4% in the first two months of 2005, reports the country's Statistics Department.
However the last twelve months index reached 2,2%.

During February prices increased for Health 1,2%; Transport 0,5%; and house equipments 0,1%, and decreased for Housing -1,2%; Clothing -0,4%; Education and Leisure -0,2%. Food and Other items remained unchanged.

As to the main items with greater incidence in the Consumer Index, Electricity dropped 13,8%; bus fares 2,8%. Financial costs also dropped 11%.

On the other end those items with greater upward impact include petrol 5,9%; social security 1,9%; domestic service 0,8%; eating out 0,4%; liquid gas 0,4%; hospital room service 0,3% and rent 0,1%.

The Consumer Price Index which does not include the more volatile items as food and fuel dropped 0,3% in February accumulating 1,7% in the last twelve months.

Actually fresh vegetables and fruits dropped 2,9% in February and 4,7% in the last twelve months. Fuel increased 3,8% in February with an accumulated 11,7% in the last twelve months.

Transable goods in twelve months advanced 1,9% and non transable goods 2,5%.