There was a significant acceleration to 3.4% in the annual inflation rate in October, compared to the preceding 1.6%.
At the monthly level, following the 1.2% decrease in September, the Consumer Price Index increased again by 0.6%.
The upward pressure on prices largely resulted from revaluations in food, with the respective category showing annual increases of 9.9% and 1.7% on a monthly basis.
More specifically, the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index in October resulted from:
- Increases in the indices of:
• 9.9% in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages group, mainly due to price increases in: bread and cereals, meats (in general), fish (in general), dairy and eggs, oils and fats, fruits (in general), vegetables (in general), sugar-confectionery-ice cream, other foods, coffee-cocoa-tea, mineral water-soft drinks-fruit juices.
• 2.6% in the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco group, mainly due to price increases in alcoholic beverages (not served).
• 3.3% in the Clothing and Footwear group, due to price increases in clothing and footwear items.
• 2.8% in the group of Non-Durable Goods-Household Goods and Services, mainly due to an increase in prices for household appliances and repairs, glassware-tableware and household utensils, nondurable household goods, and household services.
• 5.6% in the Health group, mainly due to an increase in prices for pharmaceutical products, medical products, medical-dental and paramedical services, hospital care.
• 3.1% in the Recreation-Cultural Activities group, mainly due to an increase in prices for durable goods for recreation and culture, small items for recreation-flowers-pets, cinemas-theaters, vacation packages. Part of this increase was offset by a decrease mainly in prices for audiovisual equipment-computers-repairs.
• 3.5% in the Education group, mainly due to an increase in prices for preschool and primary education fees, secondary education fees, and tertiary education fees.
• 4.8% in the Hotels-Cafes-Restaurants group, mainly due to an increase in prices for restaurants-patisseries-cafés-canteens.
• 2.7% in the Other Goods and Services group, mainly due to an increase in prices for hairdressers and personal care stores, other personal care items, health insurance, vehicle insurance.
- From the decrease in the index by:
• 2.0% in the Housing group, mainly due to a decrease in prices for natural gas. Part of this decrease was offset by an increase mainly in prices for: rents, housing repair and maintenance, electricity, heating oil, solid fuels.
• 0.4% in the Transport group, mainly due to a decrease in prices for fuels and lubricants. Part of this decrease was offset by an increase mainly in prices for: new cars, used cars, car parts and accessories, maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, passenger transport tickets by plane.
• 3.2% in the Communications group, mainly due to a decrease in prices for telecommunications services.
