to the figure for the same period in 2007.
According to the Division of Central Statistics of the Department of Commerce, the CPI for medical care increased by 7.9 percent — from 100 for the first quarter of last year to 107.9 for the same period this year.
Food came in next, increasing by 7.1 percent from 104.9 last year to 114.1 for the first three months in 2008.
The CPI for alcoholic beverages comes in third, showing an increase of 2.5 percent from the 103.9 in 2007 to 106.4 for this year. Recreation is next with a 2.1 percent increase — from 100.3 to 102.4 percent.
The remaining five components of the CPI showed very minimal movement — less than 1 percent.
These components include housing and utilities, apparel, transportation, education and communication, and other goods and services.
The CPI during the first quarter of 2003 — 100 — was used as the base period for the computation of the figures.
The figures under the food group included the CPI for beverages, breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, full-service meals and snacks.
Medical care includes CPI on prescription drugs and medical supplies, physicians’ services, eyeglasses, eye care, and other hospital services.
Housing and utilities include rent of primary residence, owner’s equivalent rent, fuel oil, and bedroom furniture.
Recreation includes televisions, cable television, pets and pet products, sports equipment, admissions and others.
Included in the education category are college tuition, postage, telephone services, computer software and accessories.
The CPI for the first quarter of 2007 went up from 112.4 to 114.1 for the first quarter of this year — a 1.7 percent increase.
