Year-on-year, prices rose less for: food and beverages (6.57 percent from 8.62 percent in December); housing and utilities (2.2 percent from 2.85 percent); and transport (3.19 percent from 4.22 percent). Inflation also eased for health (10.76 percent from 11.04 percent); clothing (3.42 percent from 3.55 percent); personal expenses (7.21 percent from 8 percent).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.38 percent, slightly higher than 0.3 percent in December. The biggest upward impact came from cost of city buses (2.84 percent), food (0.35 percent) and housing (0.17 percent). Cost of water and sewerage increased 0.61 percent, offsetting a 0.6 percent decline in prices of electricity.