Annual inflation stands at 3.31 per cent

The 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 1.25 per cent in December whereas the annual rate stood at 3.31 per cent, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

The Retail Price Index went up by 0.02 per cent over the previous month. This primarily reflected an increase of 0.42 per cent in the transport and communications index, caused by higher prices of air transport services and fuels. A 0.41 per cent increase was registered in the clothing and footwear index, mainly on account of higher prices of female outerwear.

The housing index went up by 0.29 per cent, mainly as a result of higher prices of electrical equipment and miscellaneous articles. Increases in the prices of non-durable household goods underlay a rise of 0.10 per cent in the other goods and services index. Higher prices of medicines were the main factor behind a 0.07 per cent rise in the personal care and health index. An increase of 0.07 per cent in the household equipment and house maintenance cost index was due to a price rise in decorative articles. Marginal increases were registered in the water, electricity, gas and fuels index, the recreation and culture index and the beverages and tobacco index. The food index decreased by 0.58 per cent mainly on account of lower prices of fresh vegetables.