Average consumer prices up by 1.3 per cent in Moldova in January 2019

Chisinau, 11 February /MOLDPRES/ - The average consumer prices increased by 1.3 per cent in January 2019 and the annual inflation stood at 2.2 per cent. The data was made public by the National Statistics Bureau (BNS) today.    

According to the institution, the increase in prices was triggered by the increase in the prices for food products by 1.7 per cent, for non-food products – by 1.5 per cent and of a 0.2-per cent growth of the tariffs for providing services to residents.   

As for the food products, the prices for fresh vegetables grew most of all – in January 2019 against last December – by 12.1 per cent, grapes – by 10.6 per cent, potatoes – by 5.9 per cent and exotic fruits – by 4.6 per cent. At the same time, on the concerned period, some prices dropped for beans – by 1.2 per cent and meat preparations – by 0.6 per cent.   

As for the non-food products, the prices for phones increased by 3.1 per cent and the ones for clothes children grew by 1.4 per cent. On the other hand, cuts in prices were recorded for liquid gas in cylinders – by 0.6 per cent and for medicines – by 0.2 per cent.      

BNS’s data also shows an increase in the average monthly tariffs for the maintenance of children in crèches and kindergartens – by 4.2 per cent and for some services against payment – by 4.1 per cent. Decreases in prices were also registered for the railway passenger transport services – by 3.2 per cent, air passenger transport services – by 0.2 per cent, tourism and hotel services – by 0.1 per cent for each.   

The National Bank of Moldova (BNM) has recently revised downwards the forecast of the inflation rate for 2019 to 4.9 per cent, against 5.4 per cent which BNM forecast in the inflation report No 4 for the last year.