10/9/2024
In August, food and beverages were the expenditure division with the lowest variation in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with -0.68%.
Among the products that contributed the most to the price decrease were potatoes (-10.59%), onions (-9.08%), fresh vegetables and legumes (-3.75%), rice (-1.55%), and tamarillo (-9.79%).
Bogotá D. C., (@Minagricultura, @UPRAColombia, @claudialili76). The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) reported a decrease in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the food and non-alcoholic beverages division in August 2024. With a variation of -0.68% compared to July 2024, this category had the lowest monthly variation in the country, 0.68 percentage points below the national variation, which was flat.
This drop in the August food and non-alcoholic beverages CPI is notable as it is 1.81 percentage points lower than the variation in the same month last year, when it increased by 1.13%. Among the products that contributed the most to the price decrease were potatoes (-10.59%), tamarillo (-9.79%), onions (-9.08%), fresh vegetables and legumes (-3.75%), and rice (-1.55%).
Claudia Cortés, Director of the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), explained: "This drop in prices for basic products in the food and non-alcoholic beverages division, especially in products like potatoes and onions, indicates a more stable supply and efficient planning and production efforts. This positive outcome reflects the coordination between various actors in the agri-food sector, working to maintain a supply that allows for affordable prices for Colombian consumers."
In contrast, foods that showed a price increase in August include fresh fruits (2.7%), chocolate (4.19%), fish (0.49%), panela (1.61%), and chicken (0.17%).
Year-to-date and annual variation
So far this year, the food and non-alcoholic beverages division showed an increase of 3.31% in August 2024, compared to December of the previous year. This result is 1.02 percentage points lower than the national variation, which was 4.33%.
In terms of annual variation, from August 2023 to August 2024, the food and non-alcoholic beverages category experienced an increase of 3.38%, 2.74 percentage points below the national variation, which was 6.12%. This result represents a significant decrease of 9.06 percentage points compared to the annual increase of 12.44% observed in the same period last year.
