MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

August inflation in Chile, 0,3% and 2,7% in eight months

The August consumer prices index in Chile increased 0,3%, accumulating 2,7% in the first eight months of 2005 and 3% in the last twelve months

According to the release from the Chilean Statistics Institute, Food and Beverage experienced the highest variation, 0,8% pushed by increases in Fruits and Vegetables, 2,5%; dairy and poultry products, 1,4% and 1,1% in meats and related produce.

Transport had a milder variation, 0,3%, although fuel prices jumped 1,7%.

Housing accelerated 0,2%, Health 0,3% and Housing equipment remained unchanged.

Clothing, Education and Leisure actually had a negative variation of 0,6% and 0,1%.

The Statistics release shows that among the twenty items with greatest influence in the consumer prices index, drinking water, 1,9%, gasoline and cigarettes 1,7%, recorded the largest impact in August.

In the last twelve months gasoline 12% and urban transport 9,8% experienced the highest increases. However natural gas dropped 1% in August and 0,4% in the last twelve months.

Wholesales prices in August remained unchanged accumulating 7,2% in the first eight months of 2005. Domestic production wholesale prices averaged 0,5% with Fisheries leading with 4,2% followed by agriculture with 1,4%.

Imported goods dropped 1,6% with mineral products (oil) increasing 4,7% and industrial goods falling 3,2%.