31/5/2011 00:00:00
In May, according to preliminary estimates, the national index of consumer prices for the entire community (NIC), including tobacco, reported an increase by 0.1% compared to April 2011 and by 2.6 % over the same month last year (the same figure recorded in April). Inflation for 2011 has gained 2.3%. Core inflation, calculated net of energy goods and fresh food, stabilizes at 1.8%. Excluding energy goods alone, the trend growth rate of consumer price index rose to 2.1% from 2.0% in April 2011. On the trend, the variation in the prices of goods rose to 3.0%, with a slight acceleration compared to April 2011 (+2.9%) and services prices rose to +2.3% from +2.2% the previous month. As a result of these developments, the inflation differential between goods and services remains unchanged from April. The stabilization of inflation in May, is affected by the downturn in prices for services relating to transport and non-durable goods, whose effects on the general index, however, are balanced by the monthly increase of food prices and, although slighter, of regulated energy assets. According to preliminary estimates, the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) increased by 0.2% over the previous month and by 3.0% over the same month last year, with an acceleration of one-tenth of percentage point compared to April 2011 (+2.9%).
