THE Central Statistical Office (CSO) in its June consumer price index has reported a 1.4 per cent increase in the price indices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, going from 153.4 in May to 155.5 in June.

Price increases in tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh whole chicken, soybean oil, oranges, celery, sweet potatoes, eddoes, grapes and cabbage contributed to the rise.

However, the full impact of these price increases was offset by the general decrease in the prices of pumpkin, garlic, hot peppers, fresh carite, parboiled rice, plantains, fresh salmon, table margarine, melon and pimento.