RAMALLAH, January 14, 2010 (WAFA)- Palestinian Central Bureau  of Statistics (PCBS)  said Thursday that Palestinian Consumer Price Index increased by 0.58% in December 2009.

In a press release,  PCBS reported that the Overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Palestinian Territory with its 2004 base year (2004=100) reached 127.75 in December 2009, it increased by 0.58% compared with November 2009, and increased by 4.34% compared with December 2008.

Analysis of consumer price developments for December indicates increases in the following major expenditure groups: Food and soft drinks by 1.13%; Miscellaneous goods and services by 0.99%; Education by 0.99%; Textiles, clothing and footwear by 0.67%; Housing by 0.45%; Furniture, household goods by  0.40% and Recreational, cultural goods & services by 0.40%.

At the same time, there were decreases in other major expenditure groups including: Restaurants, cafes and hotels by 0.84%; Transportation by 0.61%; Communications by 0.04%; Medical care by 0.38% and Alcoholic Beverages and tobacco by 0.02%.

Palestinian Territory regions experienced different overall CPI developments as follows: Jerusalem J1 (those parts of Jerusalem which were annexed by Israel in 1967: + 0.98%; Gaza Strip: + 0.54% and West Bank (Excluding those parts of Jerusalem which were annexed by Israel in 1967): + 0.44%.