Retail Price Index at 0.15% in December

In the month under review, the annual rate stood at 0.15%, whilea year before, the annual rate was at 1.04%.

The main upward impacts were recorded in the Recreation and Culture Index (0.23 percentage points), Clothing and Footwear Index (0.20 percentage points) and the Beverages and Tobacco Index (0.15 percentage points). This was mainly due to higher prices for education-related expenses, garments and cigarettes respectively.

The largest downward impact on annual inflation was brought about by the Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels Index (-0.63 percentage points), mainly due to lower electricity rates.

The twelve-month moving average rate was 0.31%.