The Consumer Price Index decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous month, while the annual inflation rate amounted to 8.1% in February, the National Statistics Service (GeoStat) reported.

With regard to the annual core inflation, the prices increased by 6.5 percent, while the annual core inflation without tobacco amounted to 6.6 percent.

“The monthly inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes for the following groups: Health: the prices for the group decreased by 4.9 percent, with the relevant contribution of -0.47 percentage points to the monthly inflation rate. Within the group, the prices were lower for medical products, appliances, and equipment (-8.1 percent). At the same time, prices increased for hospital services (1.3 percent);

Transport: the prices for the group decreased by 1.5 percent, contributing -0.19 percentage points to the overall index. Within the group, the prices decreased for the subgroup of operation of personal transport equipment (-3.7 percent). At the same time, prices increased for transport services (3.1 percent) and the purchase of vehicles (1.8 percent);

Food and non-alcoholic beverages: the prices for the group increased by 1.2 percent, contributing 0.37 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation rate. The prices increased for the following subgroups: vegetables (10.2 percent), mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit, and vegetable juices (2.8 percent), fruit and grapes (2.2 percent), and meat (1.5 percent). At the same time, prices decreased for the subgroup of milk, cheese and eggs (-2.3 percent),” Geostat reported.