RAMALLAH, January 14, 2006 (WAFA)-The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said Sunday that the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Palestinian Territory with its 1996 base year (1996=100) reached 153.49 in December 2006, a 0.11% increase relative to November 2006.

In a press release, PCBS revealed that price developments for December indicates increases in the following major expenditure groups as follows:

Miscellaneous Goods and Services by+ 0.34 %,Transport and Communications by+ 0.30 %,Food by+ 0.14 %,Medical Care by+ 0.12 %,Recreational, Cultural Goods and Services by+ 0.02 %.

PCBS concluded that were declines in other major expenditure groups including, Housing by- 0.01 %, Education by - 0.39 %, Furniture, Household Goods and Services by- 0.02 % and Beverages and Tobacco 0.3%.

Remaining West Bank (The West Bank except for those parts of Jerusalem, which were annexed after 1967 occupation by Israel) by+0.03, Jerusalem by + 0.07% and Gaza Strip by + 0.46%.

M.H.(10:00 P)(08:00 GMT)