The Statistics Institute has announced the cost-of-living rate for December as 3.39 per cent.
The six-month cost-of-living rate, which serves as a benchmark for adjustments to the wages of retirees and public sector employees, stood at 21.66 per cent.
According to the Consumer Price General Index of the TRNC Statistics Institute, there was an increase of 3.39 per cent compared to the previous month, 39.45 per cent compared to December of the previous year, and 39.45 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year.
The six-month cost of living rate, which is used as a reference for reflecting increases in the wages of retirees and public sector employees, was 21.66 per cent.
Among the main expenditure groups, the highest monthly increase was recorded in the restaurants and hotels group, with 16.69 per cent.
This was followed by increases of 5.91 per cent in clothing and footwear, 4.74 per cent in communication, 4.00 per cent in miscellaneous goods and services, 3.85 per cent in recreation and culture, 3.50 per cent in health, 2.12 per cent in transportation, 1.07 per cent in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.92 per cent in food and non-alcoholic beverages, 0.24 per cent in furniture, household appliances and home maintenance services, 0.22 per cent in education, and 0.03 per cent in alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
Compared to the previous month, the average prices of 508 items covered by the index increased, while the average prices of 95 items decreased.
The three goods or services with the highest price increases were school transportation fees at 50 per cent, medicines related to skin and dermatological diseases at 44.55 per cent, and cucumbers at 39.37 per cent. The three goods or services with the highest price decreases were cauliflower at 49.67 per cent, garlic at 41.34 per cent, and eggplant at 35.54 per cent.
