The annual rate of inflation as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices last month went down to 0.8 per cent, the National Statistics Office said.

It said the annual rate of inflation stood at 0.8 per cent, down from 1.2 per cent in December. A year earlier the annual rate was 0.8 per cent.

The largest upward impacts on annual inflation were mainly due to higher prices of cigarettes, household appliances and an increase in the price of meat.

The main downward impacts were mainly due to lower fuel prices and cheaper mobile phones.

The 12-month moving average rate was 1.2 per cent.