The Bottom, Saba- According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the post-irma surge in prices is no longer impacting the consumer prices on the island.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, consumer prices on Saba were back at the level of one year previously. In the preceding quarter, consumers on Saba paid 4.4 percent more for goods and services year-on-year. On Bonaire, prices in Q4 2018 were 3.4 percent up on the previous year, while prices rose by 1.1 percent on St Eustatius.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, immediately following Hurricane Irma,  prices of many goods and services on Saba rose considerably; the average price level still saw a modest increase in the ensuing period, but the trend came to a halt in the fourth quarter of 2018 as consumer prices fell to their lowest level of the entire year, ending at exactly the same level as one year previously.

Saba’s telephone and internet services saw a 13.0 percent price decrease last year while foodstuffs dropped in price by 2.0 percent on average. On the other hand, materials for maintenance and repair of dwellings became 4.7 percent more expensive while clothing and footwear prices rose as well.