Twelve per cent increase in textbook prices this year

It has been revealed that there has been an average 12 percent increase in textbook prices this year.
This is based on a survey conducted by the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) between July 29 and August 7.
Earlier this month, the Book Industry Association of Jamaica said the depreciation of the Jamaican dollar had resulted in increases of between 9 and 26 percent.
The CAC's survey reviewed 128 books in 49 book outlets across the island.
Thirteen were infant books while 34 were primary and 81 secondary. In the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area the average increase was 13-percent which is 2-percent higher than last year.
The CAC said the average price increase in Other Urban Centres was 4-percent higher over last year.
Islandwide, the average price movement for secondary texts revealed an increase of 16-percent; while for primary and infant level books, the average increase was 4-percent.
The prices for infant and primary level textbooks were found to be competitively priced as there was no significant variation among the outlets surveyed.
However, secondary level textbooks were less competitively priced and there was more variation in prices in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area than in Other Urban Centres.