KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21 : Kuwait’s consumer price index (CPI), a key measure of inflation, rose by 2.5 percent in December 2024 compared to the same month in the previous year, according to data released by the Central Administration of Statistics. The statistics agency also reported a 0.45 percent increase in the inflation rate monthly, comparing December with November 2024. The increase in inflation is primarily attributed to rising prices in several major sectors, including food, clothing and education, with the transportation sector experiencing a notable decline. The food and beverages group saw a substantial rise of 5 percent in prices, marking the largest contributor to overall inflation in December. Prices in the clothing sector rose by 5.13 percent, reflecting higher costs in this category, while the education group also experienced an increase of 0.71 percent, signaling higher costs in educational services. The health sector reported a 4 percent increase in prices, which contributed to overall inflationary pressure; the home furnishings group saw a rise of 3.51 percent in December compared to the same month in 2023 and the cigarettes and tobacco group rose slightly by 0.07 percent on an annual basis.