BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Planning ministry's statistics department announced today that the inflation rates decreased during the last six years, with expectations that it will exceed 4-5% for the current year, as much related to the stability of food stuffs and housing.

In a statement, copy received by Aswat al-Iraq, it added that that annual rates are decreasing since 2006, but increase in 2011 and 2012, to reach for housing sector to 9%.

The department expected, if nothing extraordinary arises in the coming months, that the inflation rates will not exceed 4-5%, following the stability in renting rates, which was high to unprecedented levels.