The annual change of the consumer price index in August was mainly influenced by housing expenditures
Goods were 2.3% and services 4.1% more expensive compared to August 2012.
Regulated prices of goods and services have stayed on the same level and non-regulated prices have risen by 3.9% compared to August of the previous year.
Compared to August 2012, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by housing expenditures and food, of which the first one gave nearly a half of the total increase and the second one over a third. The electricity that arrived at homes – which was 28.4% more expensive than a year before – accounted for 80% of the impact of housing expenditures. 5% more expensive meat and meat products gave a quarter, 11.6% more expensive vegetables a fifth and 12% more expensive fruit a sixth of the impact of food on the index. In August 2013, motor fuel was 4.7% cheaper than the year earlier.
The annual change of the consumer price index was last below 3% in August 2010, when it was also 2.9%.
In August compared to July, the consumer price index was mainly influenced by the 16% price decrease of vegetables, 2.9% price increase of heat energy, termination of sales of clothing and 15.8% price increase of plane tickets. Onions were 30% more expensive than in July and paprika 56% cheaper.
Commodity group | August 2012 – August 2013, % | July 2013 – August 2013, % |
TOTAL | 2.9 | 0.0 |
Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 4.2 | -1.4 |
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 5.4 | -0.7 |
Clothing and footwear | 4.8 | 2.4 |
Housing | 8.2 | 1.3 |
Household goods | 0.4 | 0.1 |
Health | 7.1 | -0.4 |
Transport | -3.5 | 0.6 |
Communications | -11.5 | -1.9 |
Recreation and culture | 2.7 | 0.6 |
Education | 2.8 | 0.2 |
Hotels, cafés and restaurants | 7.7 | -0.6 |
Miscellaneous goods and services | 2.7 | 0.7 |