Inflation on St Eustatius rose to 11.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011. With 5.9 percent, inflation on Bonaire was also higher than in the second quarter. On Saba inflation decreased to 6.6 percent.
Prices of energy and of recreation and culture push up inflation on St Eustatius
Inflation on St. Eustatius was 11.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011, versus 10.5 percent in the second quarter. The main cause of the increase were higher prices of gas and electricity; these were much more expensive compared to one year earlier. This was also the case in the second quarter, but the difference was larger in the third quarter.
Prices of recreation and culture also contributed to the inflation rise; consumers had to pay more for pet care and stationery products, for example.
Food prices raise inflation on Bonaire
On Bonaire inflation rose from 5.0 percent in the second quarter to 5.9 percent in the third quarter. This increase was mainly caused by higher food prices. Compared to the same period last year, prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages were 10.6 percent higher. Price developments of home maintenance and repairs, water and energy also contributed to the inflation increase as the effect of a price decrease in the third quarter of 2010 has now worn off.
Slight inflation decrease on Saba
Inflation on Saba was 6.6 percent in the third quarter, a small decrease compared to the second quarter, when it was 6.9 percent. The decrease is partly the result of the price development of airline tickets. The significant price increase in the third quarter last year is no longer having an effect.
Food prices pushed up inflation. Food and non-alcoholic beverages cost over 10 percent more than one year earlier. In the second quarter this difference was just under 7 percent.
Revision
The provisionally published figures for the second quarter of 2011 have been marginally adjusted as a result of new information that became available. The new figures for the second quarter are now definitive. Figures for the third quarter of 2011 are provisional and will become definitive when figures for the fourth quarter are published.