Simpson Miller’s Inflation Claim Right But ...

By: Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Image caption: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller greeting People's National Party supporters in Brown's Town, St Ann

Among the accomplishments of her government Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller highlighted at a People’s National Party mass rally on Sunday was that the inflation rate is running at less than three per cent — the lowest in more than 40 years.

"I am telling you these things so that when they chat out there and chat in your communities and chat rubbish you can correct them," Simpson Miller told party supporters in Brown’s Town, St Ann.

She consulted with her finance minister, Dr Peter Phillips who confirmed that the figure is correct.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:
1. According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) inflation for the period December 2014 to September 2015 was 2.6 per cent.

2. Inflation for March 2015 to September 2015 was measured at 3.3 per cent.

3. The inflation for September 2015 over August 2015 was 0.4 per cent.

4. The Bank of Jamaica has forecast that inflation will be within the range of 5.5 and 7.5 per cent over the course of 2015.

5. In August, the Central Bank said the rate of inflation declined to 3.8 per cent over the 12-month period ending July 31 — the lowest rate in more than 43 years.

6. The July 2015 rate was 5. 2 per cent — lower than the nine per cent recorded at the end of July 2014.