Dutch Caribbean inflation down in first quarter 2012

Inflation on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean was substantially lower in the first quarter of 2012 than in the preceding quarters. The reason for this was that prices rose by a lot less in this quarter than in the same quarter last year. Inflation was highest on St Eustatius (6.6 percent), and lowest on Bonaire (3.6 percent).

Transport, clothes, hotels and restaurant prices push Bonaire inflation down

On Bonaire inflation was 3.6 percent in the first quarter of 2012. In the fourth quarter of 2011 it was still as high as 6.3 percent. The lower first quarter figure was caused by smaller price rises for transport, clothes and hotels and restaurants.
Transport cost 2.6 percent more in the first quarter of 2012 than twelve months previously. In the previous quarter prices had risen by 7.2 percent. Clothes cost 2.2 per cent more in the first quarter (10.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011). Prices in hotels, bar and restaurants were 4.2 percent higher than in the same quarter last year, compared with 11.4 percent higher in the last quarter of 2011.

InflationBonaire

Sharp drop in inflation on St Eustatius

Inflation on St Eustatius was 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2012, down from 10.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. The drop was caused mainly by smaller rises for prices of transport, hotels and restaurants, and food. Energy prices had an upward effect on inflation; energy prices were substantially higher in the first quarter than twelve months previously, especially as a result of higher electricity prices.

InflationStEustatius

Saba inflation slightly down

Saba’s inflation was 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2012, compared with 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter. Just as on the other two islands, smaller price increases than in the previous quarter were the cause of the lower inflation in the first quarter of 2012. Prices of hotels and restaurants, food and transport were still higher than in the same quarter last year, but in the last quarter of 2011 they rose by much more. Electricity cost considerably more in the first quarter of 2012 and pushed inflation in the opposite direction.

InflationSaba

As a result of new information becoming available, some figures for the fourth quarter of 2011 have been revised from previously published figures. These figures are now definite. Figures for the first quarter of 2012 are provisional; definite figures for the first quarter will be available when second quarter inflation is published.