Just as I prepared to share with you that everything is more expensive, gas prices went up considerably, indicating that perhaps we will get some more water and electricity increases.
I feel it most in food prices, where previously I spent just a bit over Awg 200, each time I shopped – I am not a big meat consumer, I now spend close to Awg 300.
I was under the impression that I always buy the same things and that it would be easy to compare supermarket slips from different dates, which turned out to be wrong.
I buy more or less the same but in different brands and different sizes, and it is hard to compare because for the sake of accurate reporting, things must be compatible.
Spoilers-alert, I dump all receipts into one big pile in my office, in a corner tray, for no good reason. Just an old habit pf saving receipts, that came in handy for the sake of my inflation report.
By the way the only item that got shockingly cheaper are Tony Chocolonely chocolate bars, for which I paid Awg 19.98 in July 22, and Awg 9.98, in August 23.
Let’s take apples for example, same brand, same size package, they went from Awg 7.95 in July 22, to Awg 9.95 in May 23, and 10.95 in June, where they now linger.
Baby carrots, same brand, same size package, went from Awg 2.49 in April 22, to Awg 3.95 in July 23, where they now linger.
I don’t want to bore you, but local brown eggs went from Awg 5.49 in March 22, to Awg 6.80 in recent months, and Rica juice travelled from Awg 1.99 to Awg 2.19, during the same time period. It is safe to assume that everything I buy on a regular basis, moved up a notch.
CBS says the following about the Consumer Price Index: In the last two years our prices went up almost 6% which is almost double the increases we suffered the period before. The reason why this doesn’t sound that much is that we now drive much less, meaning spend less on transport, to save, and we stopped going on holidays, so we again spend less, which reflects on the CBS reporting, and results in an inflation percentage that doesn’t sound too bad!!
In the June 2023, CBS states: The period average inflation, for the periods June 2021 to June 2022 and June 2022 to June 2023 is 5.9%, which is 2.5 ppts higher compared to the period average inflation for the periods June 2020 to June 2021 and June 2021 to June 2022 which was 3.4%.
Our government raised taxes in answer to last year’s inflation numbers, placing an even bigger burden on locals. I don’t see any other program designed to alleviate the cost of living. On the contrary.
And kids are going back to school shortly which is a HUGE expense on uniforms, sneakers, school supplies, and school dues.
Foundation MTBV, Mi Voz Ta Bo Voz is organizing a back to school drive, for Awg 175 donation they will support one child in your name, for the materials above.
Email: [email protected]
CMB account: 65023206
CMBAWAX
Account name: Stichting Mi Voz Ta Bo Voz,
Address: Tanki Leendert 159-A, Aruba.
Tel: 5629820
Tax ID: 10023726
