Syrian Center for Policy Research:
The bulletin provides an independent assessment of consumer prices and the rate of inflation in all Syrian regions, based on a monthly survey of consumer prices carried out by the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR) since October 2020. The SCPR had developed a methodology for building a price index based on components of consumer basket, weighting, and market selection (See SCPR’s Consumer Price Index in Syria)
This bulletin presents the findings of the monthly consumer price survey and the changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August 2023 (with 2021 as the base year) broken down by region and the major consumption groups. Based on the CPI changes, the bulletin provides an estimate of the cost of living and poverty lines at the local level in all Syrian regions.
The following results are highlighted:
- In August 2023, the general CPI achieved a second substantial leap in annual and monthly inflation after July. This month’s monthly inflation (M-o-M) exceeded the 22 per cent limit after recording 20.5 in July, and the annual inflation rate (Y-o-Y) exceeded the 150 per cent limit.
- government policies sparked the liberalization of public service prices and subsidized commodities at unbridled inflation levels in August 2023, reflected in inflation ratios for Electricity, Gas and other Fuels (49 per cent), and Transport group (52.2 per cent).
- In August 2023, the governorates of Quneitra, As-Sweida and Dara’a marked the highest monthly inflation rates, ranging between 28 and 32 per cent. The governorate of Tartous, Hama, Lattakia, Rural Damascus, Damascus, and Homs recorded a high inflation rate of between 20 and 25 per cent.
- In August 2023, the Food and non-alcoholic beverages group contributed significantly to the monthly inflation (M-o-M) with 22 per cent, making up 47.3 per cent of the total, followed by the Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel oils group with a contribution of 23.5 per cent, trailed by the Transportation group at 13.7 per cent.
- The monthly inflation in August 2023 had a significant impact, leading to a decrease in the real wages of public sector workers in GoS areas by 20 per cent compared to July 2023. Similarly, the real wages of civil sector workers decreased by 10.6 per cent and 10.3 per cent in the private sector.
- In August 2023, the abject poverty line for families, rose to SYP 1.97 million per month, marking an increase of SYP 371 thousand from July 2023. The lower poverty line increased by SYP 584 thousand from the previous month to reach 3.1 million, while the upper poverty line saw an SYP 807 thousand increase, reaching 4.28 million.
- In August 2023, the wage gap from the upper poverty line reached 89.6 per cent for university-educated employees in the public sector, 59.9 per cent for private sector workers, and 56.7 per cent for civil society workers. In all three instances.
To read the bulletin in English:
Monthly Bulletin – Issue (8), 2023 (En)
To read the bulletin in Arabic:
Monthly Bulletin – Issue (8), 2023 (Ar)
