Inflation down to 0.31% in February

In February, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Retail Price Index went down to 0.31 per cent.

In February, the annual rate stood at 0.31 per cent, down from 0.51 per cent in January.

The main upward impacts on annual inflation were recorded in the Recreation and Culture Index (0.31 percentage points), the Beverages and Tobacco Index (0.25 percentage points) and the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Costs Index (0.15 percentage points). This was mainly due to higher prices of entertainment and cultural visits, cigarettes and household appliances respectively.

The largest downward impacts were brought about by the Transport and Communication Index (0.50 percentage points), the Food Index (0.18 percentage points) and the Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels Index (0.07 percentage points). This was mainly due to a reduction in the prices of fuel, vegetables and gas respectively.

The twelve-month moving average rate was 1.05 per cent