MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay's May inflation 0.76% and 5.37% in five months

Uruguay's consumer prices index increased 0.76% in May, totaling 5.37% in the first five months of the year and 8.25% in the last twelve months, according to the country's Statistics Institute.

The May index comes as a relief following April's 1.22%, when energy and fresh food prices soared because of a period of exceptional rains that caused devastating floods and threatened the Central Bank target for the full twelve months: 4.5 to 6.5%. In May food and beverage jumped 1.4%; housing 0.9% and transport and communications 0.59%. The food item was influenced by the prices of fresh fruit, 16.8%; bread and cereals, 3.7%; meats, 1.55%; fresh vegetables 8.78% and non alcoholic beverage 2.72%. In the Housing sector, cooking gas increased 2.6% and kerosene 3.53%; local taxes 4.16% and rents 0.99%. In transport and communications, fuel jumped 1.58% and the vehicle registries, 3.7%.