In March, the Retail Price Index went up by 0.41 per cent. This primarily reflected an increase of 5.67 per cent in the Clothing and Footwear Index due to seasonally higher prices of garments. Higher prices of fuel caused the Transport and Communication Index to go up by 0.89 per cent. The Beverages and Tobacco Index registered a rise of 0.35 per cent, mainly on account of higher prices of served alcoholic beverages. Higher prices for dental services underlay an increase of 0.29 per cent in the Personal Health and Care Index.

The Other Goods and Services Index increased by 0.23 per cent, mainly due to higher prices for selected financial services. The Housing Index edged up by 0.07 per cent due to costlier materials for the maintenance of dwellings.

The Food Index registered a drop of 0.67 per cent, mainly due to lower vegetable prices. Discounted prices of household appliances caused the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index to go down by 0.25 per cent. The Recreation and Culture Index edged down by 0.06 per cent, in part due to lower prices of flowers.

In March, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.61 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 1.98 per cent.

These figures are supplied by the National Statistics Office.

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