RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- The Consumer Price Index for October rose by 0.52 percent over the month, a report issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said.

Occupied East Jerusalem saw the strongest growth, experiencing a 0.83 percent rise in CPI, while in the West Bank the CPI rose by 0.36 percent. In the Gaza Strip however the CPI fell by 0.14 percent.

The CPI across the occupied Palestinian territories stood at 131.36 in October, which was at 100 at its base year in 2004.

The only major expenditure group to experience a decline in October was communications, which fell by 0.08 percent.

An analysis of consumer price development for October showed increases in the following major expenditure groups:

-- Food and soft drinks up 0.85 percent
-- Housing up 0.63 percent
-- Miscellaneous goods and services up 0.42 percent
-- Textiles, clothing and footwear up 0.41 percent
-- Furniture, household goods up 0.38 percent
-- Restaurants, cafes and hotels up 0.23 percent
-- Transportation up 0.18 percent
-- Medical care up 0.15 percent
-- Recreational, cultural goods and services up 0.06 percent
-- Alcoholic beverages and tobacco up 0.01 percent