Rents in Georgia's price index rose 12.8% in a year, more than twice headline inflation

October in figures

• Actual rentals for housing: +12.8% a year (10.9% in September, 8.4% in August) and +1.3% on the month.
• Maintenance and repair of dwellings: +11.9% a year.
• Electricity, gas and other fuels: +10.6% a year.
• Housing, water, electricity and gas as a group: +10.1%, adding 0.98 percentage points to inflation.

Headline inflation was 5.9% (5.6% in September) and core inflation 4.0%. Transport costs rose 21.9% and added the most to annual inflation, according to Geostat.

What the figure measures

The CPI rent item tracks rents paid for dwellings in Geostat's national sample, measured in lari. It is not an index of new asking rents in Tbilisi or Batumi, and short-term stays are counted elsewhere in the CPI.

What it means in practice

Tenants renewing a lease should compare a proposed rise with current offers for similar flats nearby; 12.8% is a national average, not a rule. Owners should note that repair and energy costs are rising almost as fast as rents, which limits the gain in net income.

For the September figures, see our earlier report.