Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of December 2018 clocked-in at 6.2 percent as compared to 6.5 percent registered in November 2018.

Housing & utilities (CPI weightage 29.4 percent) continues to be the largest contributor in headline inflation (2.4pps), mainly on the back of surge in gas prices (85.3 percent YoY), uptick in house-rent (6.7 percent YoY), rise in construction inputs/wages (11.9 percent YoY/10.4 percent YoY) along with increase in costs associated with water supply (13.6 percent YoY).

Moreover, transport group was another major contributor in November 2018 headline inflation (1.1pps) as price of motor fuel & transport services incremented 25.8 percent YoY and 16.0 percent YoY, respectively. Moreover, increase in prices of clothing & footwear (0.6pps) and hike in cost of education (0.5pps) were also amongst major contributors in Dec’18 inflation reading, Customnews reported.