Price index gains a point in February

The Retail Price Index jumped by almost a full point in February to 117.59 from 116.44 in January, figures issued by the NSO today show.

It said the increase primarily reflected an increase of 5.58 percent in the Clothing and Footwear Index. The Food Index went up by 2.28 percent, mainly on account of an increase in the price of vegetables. A rise in the fees for medical services was the main reason behind an increase of 1.21 per cent in the Personal Care and Health Index. There were also increased in the price of served alcoholic beverages and jewellery. The Housing Index went up by 0.32 percent, mainly on account of an increase in the price of plastering and cement rendering materials.

The Recreation and Culture Index went down by 0.44 per cent, mainly due to a decrease in the prices of books and computers, the NSO said. The Transport and Communication Index registered a decrease of 0.26 percent, on account of lower prices of cars.

In February the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 4.30 percent from 4.26 percent in January, while the annual rate stood at 4.16 percent, from 3.58 percent in the previous month.