In October 2024 the Consumer Price Index increased by 0.3 % compared to the previous month, while the annual inflation rate also amounted to 0.3 %, the National Statistics Service (GeoStat) reported.

With regard to the annual core inflation, the prices increased by 1.2 %, while the annual core inflation without tobacco amounted to 1.2%.

The monthly inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes for the following groups:

Clothing and footwear: the prices increased by 6.7 %, contributing 0.25 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation rate. Prices were higher for both footwear (14.4 %) and clothing (3.8 %);

Food and non-alcoholic beverages: the prices for the group increased by 0.4 %, contributing 0.15 percentage points to the overall monthly inflation rate. The prices increased for the following subgroups: milk, cheese and eggs (2.3 %), coffee, tea and cocoa (1.9 %), oils and fats (1.6 %), sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (1.4 %), vegetables (0.6 %), bread and cereals (0.5 %), mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices (0.4 %). At the same time, prices decreased for fruit and grapes (-5.3 %), fish (-2.1 %), meat (-0.3 %);

Transport: the prices for the group decreased by 1.4 %, contributing -0.18 percentage points to the overall index. Within the group the prices decreased for operation of personal transport equipment (-2.3 %) and transport services (-0.6 %).

The annual inflation rate was mainly influenced by price changes for the following groups:

Miscellaneous goods and services: the prices for the group increased by 5.8 %, contributing 0.3 percentage points to the overall index. Within the group, the prices were higher mainly for the following subgroups: personal effects n.e.c. (24.5 %), insurance (12.9 %), financial services n.e.c. (4.5 %), personal care (1.8 %);

Restaurants and hotels: the prices went up by 7.6 %, contributing 0.26 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. The prices in the group increased for accommodation services (10.4 %) and catering services (6.8 %); Education: the prices for the group increased by 5.0 %, contributing 0.25 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate.

The prices increased for the subgroups of pre-primary and primary education (10.0 %), secondary education (5.8 %) and post-secondary nontertiary education (2.8 %);

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: the prices increased by 3.3 %, with the relevant contribution of 0.22 percentage points to the overall annual inflation rate. The prices increased for both alcoholic beverages (5.2 %) and tobacco (1.1 %);

Communication: the prices decreased by 12.7 %, contributing -0.47 percentage points to the overall index.