Consumer Prices Grow by 6.5% on Annual Basis

Compared to January 2008, in February 2008 consumer prices remained unchanged, while at annual level they grew by 6.5%. In February 2008 consumer prices remained unchanged: Compared to February 2007, when deflation was recorded (-0.2%), in February 2008 prices remained the same as a month before. On average, services were 0.4% more expensive, while goods were 0.2% cheaper. As regards goods, semi-durable goods prices grew by 1.4% and durable goods prices by 0.3%, while non-durable goods prices decreased by 0.7%.

In February higher prices of clothing and footwear: In February higher prices were recorded in the following groups: clothing and footwear (by 2.3%), recreation and culture (by 1.4%), miscellaneous goods and services, and education (by 0.4%) and furnishing, household equipment and maintenance (by 0.1%). On account of the end of winter sales, prices in the group clothing and footwear grew by 2.3%; clothing prices by 1.2% and footwear prices by 6.5%.

In the group miscellaneous goods and services the prices of personal services and personal effects jumped the most (by 1.3% and 1.2%, respectively), while in the group education the prices of education not definable by level increased the most (by 1.9%). Higher prices in the groups clothing and footwear, and recreation and culture pushed the inflation rate up by 0.2 of a percentage point each, while all other increases added 0.1 p.p.

Price growth at the annual level went slightly up, reaching 6.5% (in the same period last year 2.1%), as did the 12-month average price growth, which is now 4.3% (in the same period last year 2.5%). In one year prices increased the most in these groups: recreation and culture (by 4.9%), and clothing and footwear (by 4.8%). In one year the prices of goods and services in the group health decreased by 1.2%. Compared to February 2007, goods were on average 7.2% more expensive while service prices went up by 5.2%. As regards goods, non-durable goods prices grew by 10.2% and semi-durable goods prices by 4.3%, while durable goods prices fell by 1.3%. In February 2008 service prices increased by 0.4%, while goods prices decreased by 0.4%. As regards goods, semi-durable goods prices grew by 1.1% and durable goods prices by 0.2%, while non-durable goods prices fell by 0.9%. Compared to February 2007, goods prices went up by 6.9% and service prices by 5.4%. The highest monthly rise was observed in these groups: clothing and footwear (by 2.1%), recreation and culture (by 1.2%), and miscellaneous goods and services, and education (by 0.4%).

Source: fibre2fashion.com / Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia