CPI annual rate 1.6% in March 2009

Consumer Price Index (CPI), in March 2009, resulted 104 percent against December 2007 (December 07=100), signing an increase of 0.6 percent against the previous month.
The annual rate in March 2009 is 1.6 percent. A year before the annual rate of inflation was 4.6 percent, mainly a result of the increase in electricity power price in March 2008. During March 2008-09 the price of electricity hasn’t changed and has contributed in the decrease of the inflation rate in March 2009 by 1.6 percent.
The index of “Food and non-alcoholic beverage” group signed an increase of 1.4 percent, having an impact of 0.5 percent in monthly changes. The highest increases have signed the subgroups of “fruits” and “vegetables including potatoes” by 5.4 and 5.3 percent respectively.
The index of “Alcoholic drinks and tobacco” signed an increase of 0.2 percent, where the prices of alcoholic drinks increased by 0.4 percent.
The index of “Clothing and footwear” group signed a decrease of 0.3 percent, having an impact of – 0.02 percent point in monthly changes.
The index of “Rent, water, fuel and energy” group signed an increase of 1.3 percent. The price of electricity did not change in March 2009.
The index of “Transport” group signed an increase of 0.8 percent. Increase prices of diesel by 3.0 percent, price of petrol by 0.6 percent and price of interurban transport by 1.0 percent can all be mentioned.
While the monthly changes price index in the other groups varies from – 0.1 per cent to + 0.2 percent.