The Retail Price Index went down by 0.23 per cent last month, to 105.13 from 105.37 in October.

The National Statistics Office said this primarily reflected a decrease of 2.88 per cent in the Transport and Communication Index, mainly due to seasonally lower air fares and cheaper internet services.

Lower prices for house maintenance services caused the Housing Index to drop by 0.05 per cent. Seasonally higher prices of garments underlay an increase of 2.2 per cent in the Clothing and Footwear Index.

The Food Index increased by 0.87 per cent, mainly as a result of an increase in the prices of fruit and vegetables. Higher jewellery prices brought about an increase of 0.63 per cent in the Other Goods and Services Index.

An upward movement in the prices of furniture and household textiles caused the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index to rise by 0.56 per cent.

An increase of 0.40 per cent was registered in the Recreation and Culture Index, mainly on account of higher prices of newspapers and books. A rise in the prices of beverages resulted in an increase of 0.12 per cent in the Beverages and Tobacco Index.

The 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.82 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.37 per cent.