The CPI increased 0.9 percent in the year to the December 2012 quarter, after increases of 0.8 percent and 1.0 percent in the years to the September 2012 and June 2012 quarters, respectively. Six of the 11 groups in the CPI made upward contributions in the year to the December 2012 quarter.
By group, the main upward contributions came from: housing and household utilities (up 3.0 percent), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (up 5.3 percent) and miscellaneous goods and services (up 3.2 percent).
By group, the main downward contributions came from: recreation and culture (down 2.3 percent), communication (down 6.2 percent) and food (down 0.5 percent).
Individually, the main upward contributions came from higher prices for cigarettes and tobacco (up 13 percent). Higher prices were also recorded for: rentals for housing (up 2.4 percent), electricity (up 5.2 percent), purchase of newly built houses (up 3.1 percent), local authority rates (up 4.3 percent).