The increase in basic products has made weight in the pockets of consumers. And although most of the inflationary pressures in recent months have been caused by food, these are not the only products that led the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to register a variation in January annual rate of 6.94%.
(Read: Measures against inflation would be felt in the second semester).
Of 188 ‘subclasses’ of goods and services that group the 443 products of the Colombian basic basket measured by the Dane, 175 presented increases in their annual prices in the last inflation bulletin, which implies that 93% have been victims of inflation.
One of the products that most attracts attention due to the ‘shot’ in the prices is the potatowhich for January already registered an annual inflation of 140.16%. According to the latest Fedepapa price update (February 3), the consumer sale price per 50-kg package of pastusa potatoes is $140,000 in Bogotá, and the Creole is $180,000. In Antioquia, the bundle of criolla is $90,000, while in Bucaramanga it is $200,000.
(Read: Banco de la República calculates unemployment of 11.7% for 2022).
Other foods that register the highest levels of inflation are the oils (48.52%), cassava (46.56%), the bananas (42.05%) and beef and derivatives (34.86%).
After food, which in January recorded an annual inflation of 19.94% as a whole, the category of restaurants and hotels it is the second with the highest inflation (10.73%).
There, meals consumed in establishments and places of entertainment, including homes, have seen an increase in their prices of 11.93%; hot drinks that are consumed both at the table and in self-service, such as red wine, aguapanela, chocolate, aromatics, among others, have risen 11.92%, while ‘meals prepared outside the home for immediate consumption’, or fast foods, go on a price increase of 10.02%.
The categories of alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.15%) they are not far behind. There, according to the Dane, cigarettes, tobacco and its derivatives account for an annual inflation of 7.79%, drinks such as whiskey, rum, brandy, vodka, gin, cognac and tequila show an increase of 6.28 %, while beer and mixed drinks have risen 4.91%, wines and champagnes 3.58% and brandy 1.97%.
(Read: Garments triggered inflation in January, why is this?).
TRANSPORT AND SERVICES
Another sector with significant inflation istransportation (6.9%), and the most significant increase in the item is in the prices of bicycle parts, which include tires, rims, chains, gears, sprockets, and lights, among others, which increased 14.62% in the last year; rims and tires for vehicles rose by 12.94%; while motorcycles and bicycles with motors increased their costs in the market by 11.92%.
Regarding services, on the other hand, the most significant increase is in materials for the conservation and repair of homes, which have risen 16.37%, but the rises in some are not far behind. services such as electricity (12.13%) and gas (11.61%).
HEALTH AND EDUCATION
Within these two categories, some of the services with the highest price increases are, on the health side, minor medical services, such as small outpatient surgeries or emergencies, which rose by 8.23%, pharmaceutical and dermatological products (5.35%)therapeutic equipment (5.03%) or even private dental services (4.15%).
(Read: Measures that the Government plans to implement to face inflation).
On the education side, the strongest annual price increases are in graduates, continuing education courses, preicfes, pre-university courses, which have risen 14.29%, registrations and enrollments in postgraduate courses (11.74%) and in costs of the preschool and basic primary education (6.22%).
CLOTHING AND HOME
Another effect of inflation that households have felt is in clothing, because according to Dane figures, some products such as footwear for boys and girls have increased their prices by 6.18%, while women’s shoes have increased their prices. prices 4.54% and clothing for babies at 3.98%.
In the home, several products have also become more expensive, such as stoves, ovens and gas pipettes, which have increased their prices by 14.49%, or refrigerators, refrigerators and freezers (12.95%), and washers, dryers and dishwashers (10.06%).
Within the group of miscellaneous goods and services, it is worth noting, for example, the increase in the prices of vehicle insurance (22.05%), the moderating quotas for EPS (8.62%), articles for oral hygiene ( 4.24%) and other personal hygiene products (7.38%).
Although within the products and services that are related to information and communications there have been important reductions in prices, the equipment for image and sound recording presents an increase of 17.51% in its prices, while the equipment for the reception of soundhave risen 2.39%.
(Read: Inflation for January 2022, the highest in 23 years).
RECREATION AND CULTURE
Within this category, Dane highlights how the prices of stationery items such as notebooks and agendas have risen by 9.06%, articles to write by 6.72% and newspapers by 6.5%. They have raised prices in cinemas and theaters 4.02%and services for pets, including veterinary care and others such as care, beauty salon and training, have presented a price increase of 7.33%.
LAURA LUCIA BECERRA ELEJALDE
BRIEFCASE
