Accra, April 13, GNA - The rate of inflation fell to 9.13 per cent from 9.16 per cent in March, a marginal decline of 0.03 percentage points from February, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) said on Wednesday.

This means that general price levels in the country rose at the level of 9.13 percent year on year.

Inflation has consistently fallen since June 2009, when the rate stood at 20.74 per cent, to 8.58 per cent in December 2010. The trend, however, changed in January and February when the rate went up by 0.50 and 0.08 percentage points respectively. Dr Grace Bediako, Government Statistician, attributed the marginal fall to the downward influence of the food and non-alcoholic beverages group on inflation.

The food and non-alcoholic beverages group, which has been registering single digit inflation rate since January 2010, recorded an average inflation rate of 4.7 per cent.

On the other hand, non-food inflation rate, recorded an average of 12 per cent in March due to appreciable inflation rate in transport, alcoholic beverages, water and electricity, among others. Inflation rates in the regions ranged from 6.50 per cent in the Brong-Ahafo Region to 11.81 per cent in Greater Accra Region. The Upper East and West, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions recorded inflation above the national rate of 9.13 per cent.