The Retail Price Index went down to 106.13 last month, from 106.82 in June.

The National Statistics Office said this primarily reflected a drop of 10.65 per cent in the Clothing and Footwear Index due to seasonally lower prices of garments.

A reduction in gas prices caused the Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels Index to decline by 0.62 per cent. A downward movement in the price of fruit underlay a decrease of 0.47 per cent in the Food Index.

Discounted prices of household textiles and carpets caused the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index to go down by 0.25 per cent.

Higher fees charged for house maintenance works brought about an increase of 1.59 per cent in the Housing Index.

The Beverages and Tobacco Index went up by 0.35 per cent, mainly on account of an upward movement in the prices of non-alcoholic beverages and wines. An increase of 0.10 per cent was registered in the Transport and Communication Index, mainly as a result of costlier air and sea transport services.

In July, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.36 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.11 per cent.