The cost of living in The Bahamas continues to inch upward with the price of certain goods and services showing marked increases in recent months, according to figures obtained from the Department of Statistics during a Bahama Journal investigation.
The average cost of a pound of tomatoes in New Providence jumped by nearly 9 percent from May 2005 to June 2005. Above, Joann Boyd shops at an East Street fruit and vegetable stall on Tuesday.
For instance, for the year ending June 2005, the average cost of medical care was 5.68 percent higher than the previous year.
Consumers are now paying 4.46 percent more for transportation and communications; 3.3 percent more for food and beverages; 2.57 percent more for housing; and 2.05 percent more for recreation and entertainment.
William Davis, assistant supervisor in the price section of the Department of Statistics, said that while the percentage increases may appear small in some cases, for people who have to make every dollar stretch they could begin to create some concern.
“People should care because this shows an increase in the price of goods and services,” Mr. Williams said on Tuesday. “If the price of goods and services increases more than people’s wages where everybody’s spending is coming from, people would have to [change their habits.]”
Asked how consumers can best cope with the increased cost of living, he said, “They can do a number of things: cut back on the amount of items [they purchase], cut back on the quality, look for other means to boost their income or change their spending habits.”
Mr. Williams noted that overall the consumer price index for The Bahamas over the last year increased by 2.70 percent, which is still average. But the percentage increase in some of the specific categories is notable.
The Department also released figures that show the cost movement in a variety of items and services between 2000 and 2004.
For instance, the average cost of a round trip flight from Nassau to Miami jumped from $159.79 in 2000 to $237.50 in 2004; full coverage funeral costs, including an oak casket, climbed from $7,000 over that period to $7,500; an average gallon of gasoline cost $2.57 in 2000 and $3.13 in 2004; and a 14 cubic foot refrigerator that cost on average $665,49 in 2000, cost $836.40 in 2004. (New Providence prices.)
The Department has also recorded more recent price changes. The consumer price index for the entire Bahamas had a small increase of 0.15 percent from May 2005 to June 2005.
There continued to be increased prices for physicians’ services, medical and pharmaceutical products and other professional services.
The Department also said higher electricity rates accounted for the increases in the housing index.
“If you look at your electricity bill,” Mr. Williams said, “this is easily verifiable.”
More specifically, the Department said that from April 2005 to June 2005, while the consumer price index in Grand Bahama increased by 0.48 percent, the cost of electricity actually jumped by 11.84 percent.
The food and beverage index also increased in Grand Bahama during that period due to a number of increases in certain products: limes, 16.30 percent; grapefruits, 9.42 percent; lamb, 7.88 percent; seasonings, olives, vinegar and relish, 6.74 percent; other meats, 5.43 percent; cheese, 5.01 percent; lettuce, 3.84 percent; roast beef, 3.38 percent; sweet peppers, 3.16 percent; tomato, catsup, mustard and hot sauce, 2.30 percent; bacon, 1.72 percent and steak, 1.66 percent.
In Grand Bahama, the consumer price index increased by 2.95 percent for the year ending June 2005.
While the cost of housing, food and beverage, clothing and footwear, medical care and health and other expenditures increased slighting in Grand Bahama between April and June 2005, decreases were recorded for transportation and communications, 0.31 percent, and furniture and household operations, 0.04 percent.
For New Providence between 2000 and 2004, there were also cost decreases on certain items, according to the Department of Statistics.
In 2000, the average cost for a pound of bananas decreased from $1.09 in 2000, to 99 cents in 2004; and a 15 oz bottle of shampoo (no brand was specified) cost $3.80 in 2000 and $2.97 in 2004.
Many other items and services increased by mere pennies, while other services and products cost up to $10 more during that four-year period.
For instance, the average cost of an adult tooth extraction in 2000 was recorded at $56.77 and increased to $66.67 in 2004; the average order of boil fish cost $8.57 in 2000 and $10.62 in 2004; the average order of conch snack cost $5.46 in 2000 and $7.69 in 2004; and the average monthly cost of pre-school fees moved from $145.33 in 2000 to $186.29 in 2004.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
