Education, transport go up by 40.4%

The cost of education, transport, utilities as well as housing and recreation went up significantly in April 2016, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed.

According to the Service, transport inflation went up by 40.4 per cent in April 2016 followed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel which went up by 35.8 percent.

Inflation in the education sector surged to 30.9 percent.

These indicate increasing cost of living as people’s disposable income keeps shrinking.

Inflation in recreation and culture also went up by 28.1 per cent, higher than the non-food inflation average of 24.8 per cent.

Though inflation went down to 18.7 percent in April 2016, from 19.2 percent in March 2016, monetary policy is expected to remain tight.

The food inflation rate for April 2016 was 8.4 percent. Vegetables, oil and fats, fruits, minerals water, soft drinks and meat recorded inflation higher than the group average.

Inflation rate for imported items was 18.4 percent in April 2016, same as the rate recorded in March 2016.