In March 2016, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Retail Price Index went up to 0.53 per cent, from 0.31 per cent registered in February 2016, the National Statistics Office said today.

The main upward impacts on annual inflation were recorded in the Beverages and Tobacco Index (0.25 percentage points), the Recreation and Culture Index (0.23 percentage points), and the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Costs Index (0.15 percentage points).

This was mainly due to higher prices of cigarettes, expenses related to education and costlier household appliances respectively.

The Transport and Communication Index (0.47 percentage points), the Clothing and Footwear Index (0.06 percentage points) and the Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuel Index (0.04 percentage points) were the main downward impacts on annual inflation, mainly reflecting price reductions in package holidays, garments and gas respectively.

The twelve-month moving average rate was 1.04 per cent.

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