BEIRUT: Consumer commodity prices increased 0.1 percent last January, according to a report issued by the state-run Central Statistics Bureau.

Prices are now 17.7 percent higher than the base month in December 2007, the statement added.

This followed a 3 percent increase last December. Various consumer protection groups have long cast doubt on the validity of the numbers issued by the bureau.

According to Consumers Lebanon, prices have increased by more than 5 percent since deliberations over a wage increase started few months ago.

Economists have previously predicted that inflation rates would soar after the wage increase is granted to employees across the country at the end of February.