Household's final consumption prices registered at 1.3% in the first quarter of 2014

Household’s final consumption prices registered an increase sliding by 1.3% in the first quarter of 2014 in Cameroon, against 2.6% a year ago, according to the last note of the national Institute of statistics (NIS).

Averagely over the last 12 months, such price increase was 1.7% compared to the 2.5% observed in the same period a year before.

The NIS mainly charges the increase in the general level of prices in the past 12 months to the higher prices of food products (2.9%), in the progression of prices for tobacco and alcoholic drinks (3.3%) and those of property and accommodation services, with water, electricity and other fuels (2.5%).

On another level, and concerning foreign trade in the year 2013, the balance of the country's trade will have had a deficit of 1054,4 billion FCFA, an improvement of 88.3 billion CFA FRANCS compared to before, due to an increase in exports (2.2%) coupled with a decline in imports (1.2%).

With regard to public finances, in December 31, 2013, the recovered total budgetary revenues amounted to 2655,3 billion CFA including 2609,0 billion CFA FRANCS of internal revenue and 46.3 billion FCFA of gifts, against total expenditures of 3284,3 billion CFA FRANCS with 2112,4 billion FCFA of current expenditure.

From the law of finance 2013, according to the NIS, revenue showed a very good level of recovery while expenditures have largely exceeded forecasts.

In terms of monetary situation, and contrary to 2012, the monetary situation of Cameroon was marked by an evolution of higher net external assets and domestic credit, with result to an increase of money creation.

During this time, a weakening of the net position of the Government with regard to the monetary system was noted.