Higher consumer prices registered

The harmonised index of consumer prices went up by 2.3 percent in April, when compared to March.

This reflected an increase of 11.7 percent in the restaurants and hotels index, mainly due to seasonal price rises in accommodation services.

Higher prices of package tours resulted in an increase of 3.8 percent in the recreation and culture index. Upward shifts in the prices of garments underlay an increase of 3.2 percent in the cothing and footwear index.

The transport index went up by 1.7 percent, mainly due to higher airfares. An upward movement in the price of certain medical services brought about an increase of 1.1 percent in the health index.

A rise in the price of wine was the main factor behind an increase of 0.3 percent in the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index. The furniture, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index registered an increase of 0.3 percent, mainly due to increased prices of tools, equipment and other miscellaneous accessories used in house maintenance.

The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index went down by 3.3 percent, mainly on account of lower electricity tariffs.

Lower prices of vegetables were mainly responsible for a drop of 1.8 percent in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index. In April, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 4.5 percent, whereas the annual rate of inflation stood at four percent.