RAMALLAH, April 14, 2010(WAFA) - Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said today, “the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Palestinian Territory decreased by 0.03% in March compared with February 2010.

PCBS published that, the (CPI) for the Palestinian Territory with its 2004 base year (2004=100) reached 127.44 in March 2010, it decreased by 0.03% compared with February 2010, while increased by 3.77% compared with March 2009.

Analysis of consumer price developments for March indicated decreases in the following major expenditure groups Textiles, clothing and footwear by - 1.21%; Medical care by - 0.39%; Furniture, household goods by - 0.39%; Recreational, cultural goods & services by - 0.37%; Restaurants, cafes and hotels by - 0.36%; communications by - 0.08%.

At the same time, there were increased in other major expenditure groups including:

Food and soft drinks by + 0.06%; Miscellaneous goods and services by + 0.05%; Housing by + 0.16%; Transportation by + 0.65%; Alcoholic Beverages and tobacco by   + 0.02%; Education 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)+ 0.31% by; Gaza Strip by - 0.50%; West Bank by - 0.10%.