BRATISLAVA, April 13, (WEBNOVINY) — The growth rate of consumer prices in Slovakia in March stabilized at the level from February, which is 3.8 percent. In January, inflation measured by national methodology was 0.1 percentage point higher. On average for the first three months of 2012, inflation was 3.8 percent. In a monthly comparison, consumer prices in March compared to February rose by 0.3 percent, while in the previous month they increased by 0.2 percent, the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic reported on Friday.
In annualized terms, prices increased most in transport, by 8.3 percent. Second highest dynamics was of prices in education, which rose by 5.8 percent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices increased by 5 percent, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 4.5 percent, miscellaneous goods and services by 4.1 percent Health care by 3.8 percent, food and soft drinks by 3.7 percent, hotels, cafes and restaurants by 3.5 percent, clothing and footwear by 1.9 percent, recreation and culture by 1.4 percent, furniture, household furnishings and routine household maintenance by 0.4 percent. Prices of postal and telecommunication services fell by 0.2 percent.
A monthly comparison with prices in February shows the highest growth in the categories of food and nonalcoholic beverages by 1.8 percent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 1.3 percent, 0.8 percent for transportation, recreation and culture by 0.7 percent, 0.5 percent for health care, hotels, cafes and restaurants by 0.3 percent, miscellaneous goods and services by 0.2 percent. Prices for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 0.7 percent, clothing and footwear by 0.2 percent, furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 0.1 percent. Prices of postal and telecommunication services and education remained at the same level as in the previous month.
Slovakia achieved its historically lowest inflation in 2010, when due to a sharp weakening of demand in times of crisis, it reached an average of 1 percent. Last year, growth of inflation resumed. According to national methodology, average inflation in 2011 was 3.9 percent, which was in line with expectations of the Ministry of Finance. This year, the ministry envisages a slowdown in price growth to 2.8 percent.
SITA
