The department reported yesterday that the shopping public paid 12.56 percent more for fresh and frozen fish in 2006 than they did in 2004. That report comes as thousands of Bahamians are preparing to purchase fish for the traditional Good Friday meals next week.
During the first quarter of 2006, the average price for crabs per pound increased 17.7 percent compared to the first quarter of 2004, according to the newest numbers, which also show that this cost decreased by 2.28 percent between the first quarters of 2006 and 2005.
Noting that lime or lemons are used in the preparation of many Bahamian dishes, the Department of Statistics reported that within the first quarters of 2004 to 2006, the price fluctuated. Between 2004 and 2005, there was a 2.94 percent decrease and a 33.33 percent increase between 2006 and 2005.
The cost of other items also went up.
Bananas, for instance, cost 99 cents per pound in the first quarter of 2006, compared to 95 cents per pound in the first quarter of 2005. But in 2004, the average cost of a pound of bananas stood at $1.05.
The cost of grapefruits also continued to inch up. On average, a grapefruit cost $1.03 in the first quarter of 2004. That climbed to $1.15 in the first quarter of 2005 and jumped to $1.43 cents in the first quarter of 2006.
Consumers paid 10 cents more for a lime or lemon in the first quarter of 2006 than they did during the first quarter of 2004, when a lime or lemon cost on average 34 cents.
The average cost of 16 ounces of cheese moved from $1.87 in the first quarter of 2004, to $1.88 in the first quarter of 2005, to $1.93 in the first quarter of 2006.
The average cost of a half-pound of butter was 82 cents in the first quarter of 2004, 85 cents in the first quarter of 2005 and $1 in the first quarter of 2006.
Twelve ounces of salami or sausages cost on average $3.21 in the first quarter of this year. This is up from $2.79 cents during the same period last year, and was priced at $3.04 in the first quarter of 2004.
It also cost consumers more to purchase lamb chops in the first quarter of this year. The well-loved meat cost $4.22 cents per pound in 2006; It was priced on average $3.89 per pound in the first quarter of 2005 and $3.53 per pound in the first quarter of 2004.
Another meat that rose in cost was ground beef, which was priced at $2.33 per pound in the first quarter of 2004; $2.50 in the first quarter of 2005; and $2.58 in the first quarter of 2006.
The cost of white bread rose 20 cents in the first quarter of 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005 and 2004 when a large loaf was priced at $1.80.
In another report several months ago, the Department of Statistics indicated that the cost of living in The Bahamas continued to inch upward with the price of certain goods and services showing marked increases.
For instance, for the year ending June 2005, the average cost of medical care was 5.68 percent higher than the previous year.
Consumers were paying 4.46 percent more for transportation and communications; 3.3 percent more for food and beverages; 2.57 percent more for housing; and 2.05 percent more for recreation and entertainment.
William Davis, assistant supervisor in the price section of the Department of Statistics, had said that while the percentage increases may appear small in some cases, for people who have to make every dollar stretch they could begin to create some concern.
“People should care because this shows an increase in the price of goods and services,” Mr. Williams said. “If the price of goods and services increases more than people’s wages where everybody’s spending is coming from, people would have to [change their habits.]”
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
