/ 22 May 2000

HARP INCREASE IN OIL PRICE

THE price oil by the Opec member states jumped sharply last week to an average $27,97 per barrel, from $26,28 the week before, Opec said on Monday. The average price in March was $26,71 per barrel. The organisation’s official target is $25. Last week central banks Monetary Policy Committee blamed increased in the international oil price for a rise in April’s inflation.