In December 2019 the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.4 percent compared to the previous month, the annual inflation rate amounted to 7.0 percent, the National Statistical Office reports.

In the same period the inflation rate without tobacco amounted to 0.4 percent over the previous month, while the prices increased by 6.3 percent compared to the same period  of the previous year. Prices increased by 5.2 percent, while the annual core inflation without tobacco amounted to 3.7 percent.

The monthly inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes in the following groups:

Food and non-alcoholic beverages: the prices in the group increased by 1.4 percent, contributing 0.44 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation. Within the group the prices were higher for the following subgroups: vegetables (3.7 percent), fruit and grapes (2.9 percent), meat (2.3 percent), fish (2.1 percent), milk, cheese and eggs (1.1 percent). Furthermore, prices decreased for the group of sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (-1.0 percent);

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels: the prices increased by 1.0 percent, contributing 0.09 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation. The prices rose for maintenance and repair of the dwelling (2.0 percent) and electricity, gas and other fuels (0.9 percent);

Transport: prices in the group decreased by 0.7 percent, with a relevant contribution of -0.09 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation. Prices within the group decreased for purchase of vehicles (-2.4 percent) and transport services (-2.1 percent).

The inflation of 7.0 percent is the highest rate since 2017 (7.1% in June 2017).