Food prices went up by an average 7.7 per cent for the period February 2023 to February 2024.
However, looking at the price movements for the month of February alone, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica says the cost of 'Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages' declined by about 1.1 per cent.
The index for the group 'Food' fell by 1.2 per cent, while 'Non-Alcoholic Beverages' increased by 0.6 per cent.
The reduction in the average cost of food was primarily due to a 6.3 per cent average fall in prices for 'Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses'.
'Ready-made foods and other food products' fell by 2.7 per cent.
This was linked to lower prices for agricultural produce such as cabbage, carrot, escallion, tomato, sweet potato and yam.
The reduction in the cost of food in the month of February was moderated by increases in the index for the other classes, notably 'Fruits and nuts' which rose by 3.3 per cent.
All feeds
