what the..., page-10

re: what about core cpi In annual terms, the CPI for market goods and services excluding volatile items rose by 2 per cent.

The surge was driven by a 52 per cent increase in fruit prices and an 11.2 per cent increase in petrol prices.

They each contributed 0.5 percentage points of the 1.6 per cent increase during the quarter.

Bananas accounted for most of the increase in fruit prices, both during the quarter and across the year.

But there were other increases that drove up prices.

Hospital and medical services rose 4 per cent, house purchases were up 1.1 per cent, rents climbed 0.9 per cent, house repairs and maintenance costs increased 1.1 per cent and furniture prices lifted 1.3 per cent.

Offsetting these were a 1 per cent fall in motor vehicles, a 2.6 per cent fall in audio, visual and computer equipment and a 2.1 per cent dip in the price of women's clothing.