S.I.B. Releases Consumer Price Index for August

The Consumer Price Index for August 2015 indicates that the costs of goods and services were point six percent lower last month than for the same period in 2014.  The slight decrease is the result of diminishing fuel prices which offset the rising cost of some food items, as well as the cost of home rentals which went up by point six percent on average.  While the cost of meat, including beef, pork and eggs were up, the cost per pound of red kidney beans, cooking oil and shortening were down insignificantly.  The External Trade Bulletin indicates that Belize imported a total of a hundred and fifty-four million dollars in goods, a two point three percent decline when compared to August 2014.  Export, on the other hand, stood at thirty-three million dollars, a fifty-five percent decrease from the same month a year ago.  The plummet reflected a shift in the timing of sugar shipments.  On a brighter note, citrus exports were up again, doubling from four to eight million dollars due to strong orange concentrate sales.