CPI drops in August but oil prices continue to pose inflationary threats

CPI drops in August but oil prices continue to pose inflationary threats The Minister heading the Inter-ministerial Task Force for Social-Economic Evaluation, Analysis and Forecast (MZOSSGAiP) Jerzy Kropiwnicki said yesterday the consumer price index (CPI) dropped by 0.2% in August relative to July. The team has proposed a number of measures to try and keep the prices of goods and services steady. Among such measures is the liberalization of the oil market which could include the scrapping of duty on oil imports from countries that have not signed free-trade agreements. Kropiwnicki has warned oil producers Polski Koncern Naftowy (PKN) Orlen and Rafineria Gdanska to reduce the prices of fuel or his team will ask Cabinet to remove duty on fuel imports from Russia and Ukraine. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 1, 2)