In August, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went up by 1.1 per cent over the previous month, this news comes from figures issed by the National Statistics Office today.This primarily reflected an increase of 5.1 per cent in the Restaurants and Hotels Index on account of seasonal price increases for accommodation services. The Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index went up by 1.5 per cent as a result of higher prices for fish. An increase in the price of fuel caused the Transport Index to go up by 0.8 per cent. The Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index went up by 0.7 per cent on account of costlier jewellery. Higher-priced mobile phones underlay an increase of 0.6 per cent in the Communication Index. An increase in the price of alcoholic beverages brought about a rise of 0.1 per cent in the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Index. Similar upward movements were recorded in: the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index, due to price increases in materials for the maintenance and repair of dwellings; the Health Index, mainly due to an upward movement in the fees for medical and paramedical services; and the Recreation and Culture Index on account of increased prices for package tours.
Seasonally cheaper garments caused the Clothing and Footwear Index to go down by 4.3 per cent. The Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index decreased by 0.6 per cent on account of price reductions in certain furniture items.
Inflation rate
In August, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.8 per cent, whereas the annual rate of inflation stood at 2.3 per cent.