Inflation recorded a significant increase in the month of January.  The rate went up from 17.7 percent in December 2015 to 19 percent - the highest increase over a month in recent times. 

Speaking to JOYBUSINESS after a news conference, Deputy Government Statistician, Mr. Baah Wadieh attributed this mainly to an increase in non-food inflation components such as water, electricity and transport.

The annual (year-on-year) inflation rate for January 2016 was 19.0%.

This means that the change in the general price level was 19.0% over the one year period, from January 2015 to January 2016.

The year-on-year inflation rate for December 2015 was 17.7%.The non-food inflation rate for January 2016 was 25.5% (compared with 23.3% recorded in December 2015).

The non-food inflation rate (25.5%) is more than three times  higher than the food inflation rate (8.2%).

Two regions, Ashanti and Greater Accra recorded inflation rates higher that of the national average of 19.0% Greater Accra Region recorded the highest combined inflation rate of 23.1% while the Upper East recorded the lowest at 14.1%.

The January 2016 rate of 19.0 % is the highest since January 2013.