RAMALLAH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on Sunday said in a press statement that the COVID-19 pandemic leads to the declining of consumer price index (CPI) for the second month.

"The overall CPI for Palestine decreased by 0.91 percent in May compared with April 2020, while it decreased by 1.96 percent compared with May 2019," said the statement, adding that it came as a result of the decrease in the prices of some basic commodities in food and fuel.

Because of the strict measures taken to avoid the novel coronavirus, the data collection process for CPI were replaced via phone and website for all sale outlets rather than face to face in the Palestinian territories, added PCBS.

The PCBS followed the international recommendations in estimating the missing data amid the temporary closure of many outlets in the first half of May because of the state of emergency in Palestine, explained the statement.

The Palestinian people have been living under a state of emergency since March 5, after recording the first seven cases infected with the new virus in the West Bank district of Bethlehem.

Earlier in June, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas extended the state of emergency for the third time.

So far, Palestine has recorded 673 cases infected with the virus in the East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, while 570 cases have been recovered and three died. Enditem

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