Inflation down in June

The 12-month moving average rate of inflation in June stood at 1.37 per cent, compared to 1.67 in May, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

In June, the Retail Price Index rose to 110.53, an increase of 0.08 per cent over the previous month. This primarily reflected an increase of 0.87 per cent in the transport and communications index due to higher prices of transport fuels. A 0.27 per cent increase was registered in the clothing and footwear index, mainly on account of higher prices of garments.

The water, electricity, gas and fuels index increased by 0.13 per cent, mainly as a result of higher prices of "other" fuels. The household equipment and house maintenance cost index rose by 0.05 per cent, due mainly to price increases of household textiles and household textile articles. Other slight increases were registered in the recreation and culture index, the other goods and services index and the personal care and health index.

A decrease of 0.64 per cent was registered in the food index mainly on account of price reductions in fruit. Other slight decreases were recorded in the beverages and tobacco index and the housing index.