The prices of products and services intended for personal consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continued to rise in August this year. The average growth of 0.5 percent compared to the previous month indicates the continuation of inflationary pressures in the country. Also, the prices from August show that BiH continues to record an increase in the cost of living, which further burdens the household budgets of citizens, especially in the food and basic services sectors.
The highest growth was recorded in the food sector and utilityexpenses, so, according to the report of the BiH Statistics Agency, in the segment food and non-alcoholic beverages, prices increased by 1.1 percent, housing and utility expenses increased by 1.4 percent, while the prices of clothing and footwear increased by 0.5 percent. Healthcare (0.4 percent), recreation and culture (0.6 percent), restaurants and hotels (0.4 percent), and other goods and services (0.5 percent) also recorded an increase.
Although prices generally rose, some sectors also recorded a decline. The biggest is visible in the transport sector, where prices decreased by 1.4 percent. Furniture, household appliances and maintenance saw a 0.1 percent price drop, while the education sector saw a 0.4 percent drop.
Observed on an annual basis, prices rose on average by 1.3 percent compared to the same month last year. The greatest growth was recorded in the sections Restaurants and hotels (7.1 percent), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (4.5 percent), and other goods and services (4.6 percent). Healthcare prices increased by 3.6 percent, and recreation and culture by 2.8 percent. On the other hand, a significant annual drop in prices was recorded in the sections of clothing and footwear (7.6 percent), and transportation (1.9 percent).
What methodology is used to calculate price increases? The consumer price index in BiH is calculated on the basis of a representative list of products, which in 2024 consists of 615 products. Every month, about 21,000 prices are collected at a pre-defined sample of sales points in twelve geographic locations. Prices are collected at twelve locations (cities) in the country (Banja Luka, Bihac, Bijeljina, Brcko, Doboj, IstocnoSarajevo, Mostar, Prijedor, Sarajevo, Trebinje, Tuzla, Zenica) selected according to the criteria of population and their role in the geographical area they belong.
