Prices of essential food items decreased by 0.69 per cent in November compared to October, according to the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.

The Bureau, which issues monthly updates on basic commodity prices through its Essential Commodities Price Index (ECPI), reported an overall decline of 0.69 per cent across major items last month.

Food prices recorded a 1.11 per cent decrease in November, while the cost of beverages rose by 0.55 per cent.

According to the data, prices of several commonly consumed food products declined during the month. Prices of chicken and fish fell by 0.04 per cent, while seafood prices dropped by 0.41 per cent. Fruit prices recorded a notable decrease of 4.50 per cent, and vegetable prices fell by 0.76 per cent. Prices of eggs and dairy products declined by 0.80 per cent, and edible oils and cheese fell by 0.19 per cent.

The ECPI report also shows that oil and gas prices in November decreased by 0.83 per cent compared to the same month last year.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade stated that the Essential Commodities Price Index will support the identification of price trends for frequently purchased household goods and guide further measures to stabilise prices.