The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices last month jumped to 119.48 from
115.57 in March, the NSO said.
It said the 3.4 per cent increase primarily reflected a periodic increase of 14.5 per cent in the Restaurants and Hotels Index due to higher-priced accommodation services. The Clothing and Footwear Index registered an increase of 5.7 per cent, mainly due to a seasonal rise in the prices of garments.
Higher airfares were the main reason behind an increase of 4.1 per cent in the Transport Index.
The Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index went up by 1.2 per cent, mainly due to higher prices of furniture. Higher prices for package holidays brought about a similar trend in the Recreation and Culture Index. Higher tuition fees caused an increase of 0.4 per cent in the Education Index.
An increase of 0.3 per cent was registered in the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index due to a rise in gas prices.
Higher prices for medical services caused the Health Index to edge up by 0.2 per cent. The Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Index edged up by 0.1 per cent, mainly on account of an increase in the price of wine.
Cheaper mobile phones underlay a decline of 1.1 per cent in the Communication Index. The Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index registered a decrease of 0.9 per cent, mainly driven by a downward shift in the prices of vegetables. The Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index edged down by 0.1 per cent due to lower financial charges related to currency exchange.
In April, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.5 per cent (from 2.4% the previous month), whereas the annual rate of inflation stood at 3.8 per cent (from 2.6%).
Euro area annual inflation down to 2.6%
Meanwhile, Eurostat, the EU's statistical arm, said that Euro area annual inflation was 2.6% in April 2012, down from 2.7% in March. A year earlier the rate was 2.8%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in April 2012.
EU annual inflation was 2.7% in April 2012, down from 2.9% in March. A year earlier the rate was 3.3%. Monthly inflation was 0.5% in April 2012.
In April 2012, the lowest annual rates were observed in Sweden (1.0%), Greece (1.5%), Ireland and Romania (both 1.9%), and the highest in Hungary (5.6%), Estonia (4.3%), the Czech Republic and Poland (both 4.0%). Compared with March 2012, annual inflation fell in 16 Member States and rose in 10.
The lowest 12-month averages up to April 2012 were registered in Sweden (1.2%), Ireland (1.5%) and Slovenia (2.2%), and the highest in Estonia (4.8%), Hungary (4.4%) and Slovakia (4.2%).