Singapore Consumer Price Index for households in different income groups, July to December 2016

SINGAPORE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN DIFFERENT INCOME GROUPS 

Consumer Price Index, July – December 2016 

In the second half of 2016, the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-All Items for general households fell by 0.2 per cent as compared to the same period in 2015, smaller than the decline of 0.9 per cent in the first half of 2016. Excluding imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation (OOA)^[1], the CPI increased by 0.7 per cent, after edging down by 0.2 per cent in the first half of 2016. 

During the second half of 2016, the CPI-All Items for the lowest 20% and middle 60% income groups fell by 0.8 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively, while the CPI-All Items for the highest 20% income group remained unchanged. Excluding imputed rentals on OOA, the CPI for the lowest 20%, middle 60% and highest 20% income groups rose by 0.6 per cent, 0.7 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively.  Among the different income groups, the lowest 20% income group registered the largest decline in its CPI-All Items in the second half of 2016. This was mainly due to a fall in accommodation costs and electricity tariffs, which had a larger impact on the CPI of the lowest 20% income group given that these items accounted for a higher share of expenditure for this group as compared to the middle 60% and highest 20% income groups. The lowest 20% income group also experienced a smaller increase in the cost of healthcare services[2] as compared to the other income groups. For the highest 20% income group, the impact of the declines in accommodation costs and electricity tariffs on its CPI was offset by the impact of the increases in food prices, tuition & other fees and road tax, resulting in its CPI remaining unchanged in the second half of 2016. 

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[1] The OOA cost in CPI comprises rentals that are imputed for owner-occupied homes. Given that imputed rentals on OOA have no impact on the cash expenditure of such households, an additional indicator of inflation, "CPI All Items less imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation" is compiled.

[2] This takes into account Government subsidies and support for MediShield Life premiums, including the progressive phasing down of the Transitional Subsidies over the first four years of MediShield Life