Prices have remained stable on the whole, with the exception of wholesale prices which have declined somewhat. Monetary aggregates continue to grow at around 3 per cent. Personal consumption has continued to stagnate.
The external environment Major considerations during the course of the year were: •  First, the sharp upturn in the prices of fuel and petroleum products, with accompanying hikes in the costs of transportation, electricity, imported building materials as well as domestically produced goods and services.