Quarterly Statistical News Bulletin – August 2013

The Quarterly Statistical News Bulletin, published August 2013, covers the period April – June 2013 and contains updates for the annual rate of inflation of the Retail Price Index, Estimated Population, Visitor arrivals, Building and Rainfall statistics and a summary of other high-level economic information on St Helena.

Annual inflation of the St Helena Retail Price Index (RPI) stood at 0.8 per cent in Q2 2013 – the lowest record in over ten years. There was a 0.3 per cent decrease in the RPI (the overall cost of the ‘St Helena Shopping Basket’) from Quarter 1 to Quarter 2, 2013.

The fall in both the RPI and annual inflation of the RPI is due to a combination of:
•Reduction in price of expensive occasional purchase items, such as a vehicle and white goods
•Smaller price decreases in more regular purchases such as fuel, internet services and building materials
•Delay in the expected annual increment of utility bills, meaning last year’s price increases no longer features in our calculation of annual inflation of the RPI

Despite the noted decreases, important price rises are also noted, particularly in the cost of Services -namely childcare, hospital stay and domestic services. Increased labour costs within the construction industry are also noted. These rises are primarily due to increased staffing costs following the welcome introduction of a Minimum Wage on St Helena on 1 June 2013.

The St Helena resident population continues to grow. There is a temporary long-term increase as a result of increasing numbers of Basil Read and expatriate Government workers living on the Island for a period of six months or longer. We are also seeing a steady trickle of Saints returning to live and work on the Island.

Visitor arrivals in the first six months of 2013 are up the same period last year. The majority of arrivals on the RMS are Saints and Business visitors. Tourist arrivals are up by 5.5% compared to the same period in 2012.

The Statistical News Bulletin, along with other statistical reports, is available for download from the SHG website www.sainthelena.gov.sh/statistics

If you have requested a copy of the Quarterly Statistical News Bulletin via email and have not yet received it, please contact the office on 2138 or statistics@sainthelena.gov.sh

Statistics Office
SHG
19 August 2013

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St Helena Government Communications Hub

Telephone: 22470
Email: kimberley.peters@sainthelena.gov.sh