Guam Consumer Price Index (CPI)
1st Quarter 2007
Volume XXXIII, 1
The Guam Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 143.90 for 1st Quarter 2007 shows an increase of 1.77 percent over the preceding quarter and 9.49 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier. Further comparison shows that a market basket of goods and services costing $100.00 in October 1996 (base period), now cost $143.90. The 1st Quarter 2007 index was based on 1,626 price observations of which 510 or 31.33 percent remained unchanged, 58 or 3.56 percent increased, 28 or 1.72 percent decreased, and 1,032 or 63.39 percent were not available.
The largest increase over the preceding quarter was for the Housing group. Housings’ index of 91.23 shows an increase of 4.19 percent over the preceding quarter and 5.21 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier. The Rent sub-category shows a double-digit increase of 14.26 percent over both the preceding quarter and the same period one year earlier. This increase was due to higher prices reported for apartment rentals. The Housekeeping sub-category also experienced an increase of 1.95 percent over the preceding quarter and 7.89 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier. Contributing to the increase over the preceding quarter were higher prices reported for bathroom tissue and insecticides.
The Food & Beverages group index of 173.38 shows an increase of 2.51 percent over the preceding quarter and 3.60 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier. The Fresh Vegetables sub-category shows a double-digit increase of 10.33 percent over the preceding quarter, due to higher prices reported for cabbage, onions,tomatoes, celery, and broccoli. The Cereals and Grain products show an increase of 8.40 percent over the
preceding quarter and 7.63 percent when compared to the same period one year earlier. The increase over the preceding quarter was due to higher prices reported for rice and flour.
The Apparel & Upkeep, Entertainment, Medical Care, and Transportation groups all show increases over the preceding quarter of 0.31 percent, 0.19 percent, 0.15 percent, and 0.03 percent, respectively.
The Other Goods & Services group experienced a decrease 0.05 percent over the preceding quarter.
