Last Friday, according to Financial Tribune, the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company announced that gasoline has been rationed and prices raised by at least 50%.

“Private car owners can buy 60 liters of subsidized gasoline every month with a fuel card for 15,000 rials (12 cents) per liter, up 50% (in prices). Additional purchases (maximum 250 liters a month) will cost 30,000 rials (25 cents) per liter, up 200%,” NIOPDC said.

Central Bank of Iran's Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati estimates that the direct inflationary impact of gas price hike will be around 2.5% and its indirect impact would reach 4% over the next year, IRNA reported. 

The overall CPI (using the Iranian year to March 2017 as the base year) stood at 187.8 last month, indicating a 1.6% rise compared with the month before, latest data released by the Statistical Center of Iran show.

The consumer inflation registered a year-on-year increase of 27% in the Iranian month ending Nov. 21, compared with the similar month of last year.

SCI had put the annual inflation rate for the preceding Iranian month, which ended on October 22, at 42%. 

The index registered a year-on-year increase of 27% for urban areas and 27.3% for rural areas compared with the similar month of last year. 

The overall CPI reached 187 for urban households and 192 for rural households, indicating a month-on-month increase of 1.5% and 1.8% for urban and rural areas, respectively.

SCI put urban and rural 12-month inflation for the month under review at 40.3% and 45.1% respectively. 

Last month, price drops were registered in only one out of 12 groups of consumer goods and services purchased by households, namely “communications”, compared with the month before.

Transportation

With a coefficient of 9.41%, CPI of “transportation” stood at 190.2% last month, indicating a 5.4% increase compared with the month before, which was the highest monthly inflation registered among all groups. 

The “transportation” index registered a year-on-year increase of 33.4%. 

The annual CPI of this group increased by 44.4% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Food & Beverages

With a coefficient of 26.64%, the Consumer Price Index of “food and beverages” stood at 215.6 in the month ending Nov. 21, indicating a 1.4% increase compared with the month before. 

The “food and beverages” index registered a year-on-year increase of 29.8% compared with the similar month of last year. 

CPI of “food and beverages” group in the 12-month period ending Nov. 21 increased by 58.5% compared with last year’s corresponding period, SCI reported. 

Tobacco

CPI of “tobacco” stood at 279.3 last month, indicating a 0.3% rise compared with the month before. 

The “tobacco” index, which has the minimum impact on total inflation rate with a coefficient of 0.59%, registered a year-on-year increase of 1.5%. 

CPI of “tobacco” group in the 12-month period ending Nov. 21 grew 64.9% compared with last year’s corresponding period. 

Clothing & Shoes

With a coefficient of 4.78%, CPI of “clothing and shoes” stood at 203.8 last month, indicating a 1.6% increase compared with the month before. 

The “clothing and shoes” index registered a year-on-year increase of 36.1% during the month.

The annual CPI of the group increased by 50.7% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Housing, Water, Electricity, Natural Gas & Other Fuels

CPI of “housing, water, electricity, natural gas and other fuels” stood at 163.3 last month, indicating a 1.3% increase compared with the month before. 

The group’s CPI index, which has the biggest impact on total inflation rate with a coefficient of 35.5%, registered a year-on-year increase of 23.5%. 

The 12-month CPI of this group increased by 24.1% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Furniture, Home Appliances & Their Maintenance 

With a coefficient of 3.93%, CPI of “furniture, home appliances and their maintenance” stood at 231.3 last month, indicating a 1% increase compared with the month before. 

The group’s CPI registered a year-on-year increase of 35.6%. The 12-month CPI of the group increased by 66.4% compared with last year’s corresponding period, the highest annual inflation among 12 groups of goods and services. 

Health & Treatment

CPI of “health and treatment” stood at 163.3 last month, indicating a 1% increase compared with the month before. The index, with a coefficient of 7.14%, registered a year-on-year increase of 24.2% compared with the similar month of last year. 

“Health and treatment” group’s annual inflation during the month under review grew by 26.2% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Communications

CPI of “communications” stood at 145.1 last month, indicating a 0.2% decline compared with the month before. The index, with a coefficient of 2.87%, registered a year-on-year increase of 1.7%. 

“Communications” group’s annual inflation during the month under review grew by 27% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Leisure & Culture

CPI of “leisure and culture” group stood at 231 last month, indicating a 0.3% rise compared with the month before. 

The index, with a coefficient of 1.65%, registered a year-on-year increase of 30.2%. 

“Leisure and culture” group’s annual inflation during the month under review grew by 60.1% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Education

With a coefficient of 1.86%, CPI of “education” stood at 171.2 last month, indicating a 0.2% increase compared with the month before. 

The “education” CPI index registered a year-on-year increase of 22.3%. The annual CPI of the group increased by 22.3% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Hotels & Restaurants 

CPI of “hotels and restaurants” stood at 187 last month, indicating a 1% growth compared with the month before. The index, with a coefficient of 1.44%, registered a year-on-year increase of 36.4%, the highest increase in the basket of Iranian households.

The group’s annual inflation during the month under review grew by 42.4% compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Miscellaneous Items & Services

CPI of the goods and services categorized within “miscellaneous” heading stood at 202.1 last month, indicating a 0.7% growth compared with the month before. The index, with a coefficient of 4.18%, posted a year-on-year increase of 24.9%. 

The group’s annual inflation during the month under review grew by 46.9% compared with last year’s corresponding period.