NSO confirms inflation rise

The Retail Price Index went up by 0.68 percent in March over the previous month, the National Statistics Office said today. The 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 1.94 percent, with the annual rate at 3.89 percent.

The GWU on Wednesday expressed its concern about rising inflation and called for effective measures to ease its impact on workers and industry.

The NSO said the price rises primarily reflected an increase of 6.06 percent in the Clothing and Footwear Index, owing to seasonal price increases. Higher prices for pasta, fish, vegetables and take-aways was the main cause behind an increase of 1.05 per cent in the Food Index.

The Other Goods and Services Index increased by 0.27 percent, mainly on account of higher prices of non-durable household goods. The Personal Care and Health Index increased by 0.11 percent due to a price rise in visual aid apparatus. Household textile articles rose by 0.06 percent.

Marginal increases were recorded in the Housing Index, the Transport and Communication Index and the Recreation and
Culture Index.

A marginal decrease was recorded in the Beverages and Tobacco Index.