RPI up 0.5 per cent

The Retail Price Index went up by 0.54 per cent last month, primarily reflecting an increase of 1.81 per cent in the clothing and footwear index, due to seasonally higher prices of garments.

The National Statistics Office said that the rise in the price of fuels caused the transport and communication index to go up by 1.10 per cent.

The water, electricity, gas and Fuels index registered an increase of 0.75 per cent due to higher gas prices.

An upward movement in the price of jewellery underlay a rise of 0.59 per cent in the other goods and services index.

The beverages and tobacco index went up by 0.39 per cent, mainly due to an increase in the price of cigarettes.

A rise in the price of fruit was the main factor behind an increase of 0.28 per cent in the food index.

The personal care and health index edged up by 0.08 per cent due to costlier medical services.

Higher prices for household appliances pushed the household equipment and house maintenance cost index up by 0.07 per cent.

In December, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 1.51 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 3.25 per cent.