In May 2009, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went up by 0.2 per cent over the previous month. This primarily reflected an increase of 1.1 per cent in the Clothing and Footwear Index, mainly due to seasonal price rises in garments and footwear. Higher prices of accommodation services caused the Restaurants and Hotels Index to go up by 1.0 per cent.
Upward shifts in the prices of certain financial services underlay an increase of 0.2 per cent in the Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index. The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index went up by 0.1 per cent mainly due to an increase in actual rentals paid by tenants. The Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index registered an increase of 0.1 per cent, on account of higher prices of furniture and furnishings.
The Recreation and Culture Index went down by 0.3 per cent, mainly due to lower prices of books. A downward movement in the prices of vegetables and fish brought about a decrease of 0.2 per cent in the Food and Non-alcoholic Index.
In May, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 4.5 per cent, whereas the annual rate of inflation stood at 3.4 per cent.