In July, consumer prices were 17.6% higher compared to the same month last year. Core inflation dropped to 17.5%. In June, annual inflation was 20.1% and core inflation was 20.8%.
In terms of annual inflation, energy remains the biggest price driver (+35.7%), with pipeline gas rising by 47.2%, bottled gas by 41.6% and electricity by 26.0%. Food prices remain above the average inflation rate (+23.1%). Eggs, dairy products and coffee cost about 30% more than a year ago, bread and bakery products as well as butter rose by about a quarter.
However, consumer prices rose again slightly by 0.3% compared to the previous month. Food became 0.9% cheaper, consumer durables and clothing fell by an average of 0.5% and 1.5% respectively. Service prices rose by 1.7%, gas price by 3% and fuel prices by just over 1%.
In August, food could be replaced as the second largest price driver by fuel, which in July was already 21.5% higher compared to the previous year’s level.