A shortage in the supply of fresh vegetables between October and December of last year resulted in a 13.6 per cent increase in prices over the corresponding period of 2014, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

With the exception of lettuce and marrows whose prices fell by 28 per cent and 17.1 per cent respectively, all other vegetables were up in price most notably potatoes, whose cost soared by more than a third (38.6 per cent).

During the corresponding quarter, fresh fruit prices dropped by 4.6 per cent as a result of lower prices for citrus products and olives.

Lower prices were also registered for all slaughtered animals except rabbits. In contrast the animal products index rose on account of higher prices for eggs and milk.