Rise in consumer prices recorded last month

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went up by 0.8 per cent in June over the previous month, according to a study released by the National Statistics Office.

This primarily reflected an increase of 4.6 per cent in the Restaurants and Hotels Index, mainly due to seasonally higher prices for accommodation services.

Higher prices of garments caused the Clothing and Footwear Index to go up by 0.9 per cent.

The Recreation and Culture Index registered an increase of 0.4 per cent, mainly due to higher-priced package holidays.

A similar rise was recorded in the Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index on account of an upward movement in the price of furniture. Cheaper gas prices caused the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index to go down by 0.2 per cent.

Higher prices for cigarettes underlay an increase of 0.3 per cent in the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Index.

The Health Index edged up by 0.1 per cent, mainly due to costlier medical services.

The Transport Index went down by 0.7 per cent, mainly on account of lower airfares.

A decline of 0.3 per cent was registered in the Communication Index, mostly to lower-priced mobile phones.

A similar decrease was recorded in the Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index due to seasonally lower prices of fruit. The Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index edged down by 0.1 per cent as a result of lower-priced jewellery.

In June, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.3 per cent and the annual rate stood at 0.6 per cent.