Clothing prices rose 11.38 percent month-on-month in January, while prices for water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 162.82 percent year-on-year in January. (Credit: Florient Zwein/L'Oreint-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — The monthly consumer price index (CPI), released on Tuesday by Lebanon's Central Administration of Statistics (CAS), stood at 8.43 percent for January 2023, compared to 6.73 percent in December 2022.
On a monthly basis, restaurant and hotel rates rose the most (+18.01 percent), followed by clothing (+11.38 percent), food and alcoholic beverages (+11.29 percent) and the health sector (+11.03 percent).
In January, prices in the education sector were the only costs that neither decreased nor increased. However, on an annual basis, education prices increased by 191.35 percent.
In similar proportions, prices increased monthly in each governate.
The highest increase was recorded in the region of Nabatiyeh (+ 9.86 percent) and the lowest in South Lebanon (+ 7.62 percent).
Between these two extremes, the following increases were recorded: Mount Lebanon (+8.55 percent), North Lebanon (+8.4 percent), Beirut (+8.31 percent) and Bekaa (+7.74 percent).
As a reminder, 2022 was the third consecutive year to end with an average annual inflation rate in the triple digits (+171.2 percent).