The Department of Statistics and Research announces that the Consumer Price Index for March 1998 increased by 0,75 units or 0,62 per cent to 120,99 units compared to 120,24 in the previous month. This is mainly due to increases in the prices of clothing, footwear and furniture following the end of the winter sales. Decreases were mainly recorded in the prices of electricity and certain fresh fruit.

2. The average rate of increase of the Index for the last twelve months (i.e. April 1997 - March 1998) compared to the preceding twelve months (i.e. April 1996 - March 1997) was 3,33%.