In December compared with November, consumer prices decreased by 0,1 % in total.  Prices dropped in the divisions of transport by 3,5 %; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear equally by 0,2 %; food and non-alcoholic beverages; recreation and culture equally by 0,1 %. Prices increased in the division of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 0,8 %; restaurants and hotels by 0,3 %;  furniture and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance by 0,2 %. Prices in health; communications; education; miscellaneous goods and services were at the level of November.

Higher prices of food by 0,1 % were affected by rise in prices of vegetables (including potatoes) by 5,3 %; bread and cereals by 1,4 %; milk, cheese and eggs by 0,1 %. Prices of fruit dropped by 3,5 %; sugar, jam, honey, syrups, chocolates and confectionary by 3,2 %; oils and fats by 0,7 %; meat by 0,2 %.   Prices of fish did not change. Prices of non-alcoholic beverages decreased by 2 % (prices of mineral water, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices decreased by 4,1 %, prices of coffee, tea and cocoa increased by 0,9 %).

Higher prices of vegetables were affected by price increase of cauliflower by 57,5 %, tomatoes by 14,7 %, onion by 9,4 %, potatoes by 8,7 %, salad cucumbers by 3,8 %, celery by 2,5 %, parsley by 2,1 %, pepper by 1,4 %, white cabbage by 0,2 %. Prices of garlic dropped by 3,5 %, carrot by 2,8 %. Lower prices of fruit were affected by decrease in prices of tangerines by 17,5 %, lemons by 14,5 %, oranges by 12,8 %, kiwi by 10,9 %, bananas by 7 %, apples by 3 %. Prices of table grapes rose by 45,9 %. Price decrease of meat was affected by lower prices of sausages by 0,8 %, poultry by 0,2 %. Prices of pork meat increased by 0,4 % and beef meat by 0,2 %.

Lower prices in the division of alcoholic beverages and tobacco were affected by decrease in prices of alcoholic beverages by 0,4 % (prices of wine dropped by 1,6 %, spirits by 0,7 %, prices of beer increased by 0,8 %). Prices of tobacco did not change.

Lover prices in the division of clothing and footwear was affected by decrease in prices of footwear by 0,5 %; clothing by 0,1 %.

Price increase in the division of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels was affected by higher prices of gas by 5,8 %; other services related to the dwelling by 0,2 %; imputed rentals of owner-occupiers; solid fuels equally by 0,1 %.  Prices of actual rentals paid by tenants; materials for the maintenance and repair of the dwelling; services related to the maintenance and repair of the dwelling; water supply; refuse collection; sewage collection; electricity; heat energy were at the level of the previous month.  

Price increase in the division of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance was affected by higher prices of goods and services for routine household maintenance by 0,6 %; furniture and furnishings, carpets and other floor coverings by 0,2 %; household appliances by 0,1 %. Prices of tools and equipment for house and garden decreased by 0,7 %, household textiles by 0,6 %;  glassware, tableware and household utensils decreased by 0,1 %.

In the division of health, prices of  hospital services were at the level of November. Prices of outpatient services increased by 0,5 % (dental services by 0,7 %, prices of medical services, paramedical services – thermal-baths did not change). Prices of medical products, appliances and equipment decreased by 0,1 % (prices of pharmaceutical products decreased by 0,1 %, prices of other medical products increased by 0,6 %, therapeutic appliances and equipment by 0,1 %).

Lower prices in transport were due to price decrease in transport services by 4,8 % (passenger transport by air by 25,7 %, other purchase transport services by 0,4 %; prices of passenger transport by road did not change); operation of personal transport equipment by 3,7 % (prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment decreased by 4,7 %, prices of other services related to personal transport equipment increased by 0,6 %, spare parts and accessories by 0,3 %, maintenance and repair by 0,2 %); purchase of transport vehicles by 1,3 % (second hand motor vehicles by 2,2 %, new motor vehicles by 0,2 %).

In the division of communication, prices of postal; telephone services were at the level of the previous month. Prices of mobile phone equipment decreased by 0,3 %.

Price decrease in the division of recreation and culture was due to lower prices of audio-visual and photographic equipment by 0,6 %; other recreational items and equipment for gardens and pets by 0,4 %;  other major durables for recreation and culture – musical instruments by 0,1 %. Prices of recreational and cultural services rose by 0,2 %; newspapers, books and stationery; package holidays equally by 0,1 %.

In the division of education, prices of pre-primary, primary; secondary; tertiary education; education not definable by the level were at the level of the last month.

Increasing prices in the division of restaurants and hotels were affected by higher prices of catering services by 0,3 % (in restaurants, cafes by 0,4 %, prices in canteens, payment for meals in canteens of pensioners did not change); accommodation services by 0,2 %.

In the division of miscellaneous goods and services, prices of personal care; social protection; insurance (prices of compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance decreased by 0,2 %); financial services n.e.c.; other services n.e.c. were at the level of November. Prices of personal effects n.e.c. dropped by 0,2 %.

In December 2018 compared with December 2017, consumer prices increased by 1,9 % in total. Prices increased in the divisions of restaurants and hotels by 4 %; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 3,2 %; miscellaneous goods and services by 2,7 %; furniture and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance; health equally by 1,9 %; alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 1,6 %; clothing and footwear by 1,4 %; communications by 1,1 %; education by 1 %; food and non-alcoholic beverages by 0,9 %; transport by 0,5 %; recreation and culture by 0,4 %.

On average, over 2018 compared with the same period of 2017, consumer prices increased by 2,5 % in total.

In December compared with November, index of consumer prices decreased in households of employees by 0,2 %, it increased in households of pensioners by 0,1 %, it did not change in low-income households.

In December 2018, index of consumer prices increased, year-on-year, in households of employees and in low-income households equally by 1,9 %, in households of pensioners by 2,1 %.

On average, over 2018 compared with the same period of 2017, index of consumer prices increased in households of employees, in household of pensioners equally by 2,5 %, in low-income households by 2,4 %.