In March compared with February, consumer prices remained unchanged in total. Prices increased in the divisions of clothing and footwear by 1,4 %, miscellaneous goods and services by 0,4 %; health by 0,3 %; food and non-alcoholic beverages; restaurants and hotels equally by 0,2 %; recreation and culture by 0,1 %. There was a decrease of prices in transport by 2,2 %; alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 0,4 %; furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of households by 0,1 %. Prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; communications; education remained at the level of February.

Higher prices of food by 0,2 % were affected by a price rise of fruit by 2,3 %; fish by 0,6 %; meat, oils and fats equally by 0,5 %; milk, cheese and eggs by 0,4 %; sugar, jam, honey, syrups, chocolates and confectionary; food products n.e.c. equally by 0,3 %. Prices of vegetables (including potatoes) decreased by 1,3 %; bread and cereals by 0,5 %. Prices of non-alcoholic beverages fell by 0,3 % (prices of coffee, tea and cocoa by 0,9 %; prices of mineral water, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices increased by 0,1 %.

An increase in prices of fruit was caused by higher prices of tangerines by 6,8 %, lemons by 4,7 %, oranges by 4 %, apples by 3,9 %, table grapes by 2,6 %, bananas by 0,8 %, kiwi by 0,4 %. Higher prices of meat were caused by a price rise of pork meat by 1,1 %; beef meat by 0,6 %; sausages by 0,4 %. Prices of poultry decreased by 0,2 %. Lower prices of vegetables resulted from decreasing prices of salad cucumbers by 14,1 %; parsley by 12,4 %; cauliflower by 9,8 %; potatoes by 2,5 %; celery, carrots equally by 2 %; onions, tomatoes equally by 0,9 %; white cabbage by 0,3 %. Prices of pepper rose by 4 %, garlic by 3,2 %.

A price decrease in the division of alcoholic beverages and tobacco was influenced by lower prices for alcoholic beverages by 0,7 % (spirits, wine equally by 0,8 %; beer by 0,6 %). Prices of tobacco remained unchanged.

A price growth in the division of clothing and footwear was affected by higher prices of footwear by 2 % and clothing by 1,2 %.

In the division of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, prices of materials for maintenance and repair of the dwelling; electricity, gas, heat energy remained at the level of the previous month. Prices of waste disposal; wastewater increased equally by 0,3 %; water supply by 0,2 %; actual rentals paid by tenants; services related to maintenance and repair of the dwelling; other services related to the dwelling equally by 0,1 %. Prices of imputed rentals of owner-occupiers; solid fuels decreased equally by 0,1 %.

A downward trend of prices in the division of furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house resulted from lower prices of furnishings, carpets and other floor coverings; goods and services for routine maintenance of household equally by 0,3 %. Prices of household textiles rose by 0,3 %. Prices of household appliances, glassware, tableware and household utensils; tools and equipment for house and garden remained unchanged.

A price rise in the health division was influenced by higher prices of medical products, medical appliances and equipment by 0,4 % (pharmaceutical products by 0,4 %, other medical products by 0,1 %, therapeutic appliances and equipment remained unchanged); outpatient services by 0,1 % (middle medical staff services – thermal bath equally by 1,2 %, medical services, dental services remained unchanged). Prices of hospital services remained unchanged.

A price decrease in   transport was caused by lower prices of operation of personal transport equipment by 4,2 % (prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment decreased by 5,6 %, prices of maintenance and repair, other service activities relating to passenger transport equipment increased equally by 0,2 %, spare parts and accessories by 0,1 %); purchase of transport equipment by 0,3 % (second-hand motor vehicles by 0,9 %, prices of new motor vehicles remained unchanged). Prices of transport service activities rose by 0,9 % (passenger transport by air by 9,4 %, other purchase transport service activities by 0,6 %, passenger transport by road remained unchanged). 

In the division of  communication, prices of postal and telephone services were unchanged. Prices of telephone equipment rose by 0,6 %.

A price rise in the division of recreation and culture was affected by higher prices of other recreational items and equipment for gardens and pets by 0,5 %; recreational services and culture; newspapers, books and stationary equally by 0,2 %. Prices of audiovisual and photographic technology decreased by 0,3 %; package holidays by 0,2 %; other major durables for recreation and culture – musical instruments by 0,1 %.

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

A price increase in the division of restaurants and hotels was influenced by higher prices in catering services by 0,2 % (payment for meals in canteens for pensioners by 0,6 %, in restaurants, in cafés by 0,3 %, prices remained unchanged in canteens). Prices of accommodation services remained at the level of the previous month.

A price rise in the division of miscellaneous goods and services was affected by higher prices of financial services n.e.c. by 1,1 % (bank financial services by 1,2 %); personal effects n.e.c. by 0,4 %; personal care by 0,2 %. Prices of social protection; insurance; other services n.e.c. remained unchanged.

In March 2020 compared with March 2019, consumer prices increased by 2,3 % in total. Prices increased in the divisions of education by 5 %; miscellaneous goods and services by 4,2 %; food and non-alcoholic beverages by 3,7 %; recreation and culture by 3 %; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels by 2,5 %; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance; communications equally by 2,1 %; restaurants and hotels by 1,8 %; health by 1,4 %; clothing and footwear by 1 %; alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 0,3 %. Prices of transport decreased by 1,9 %.

On average, over the first three months of 2020, compared with the same period of 2019, consumer prices increased by 2,8 % in total. 

In March compared with February, index of consumer prices remained unchanged in households of employees, in households of pensioners and in low-income households.

In March 2020, index of consumer prices increased in households of  employees by 2,2 %, households of pensioners by 2,6 % and in low-income households by 2,4 % year-on-year.

On  average, over the first three months of 2020, compared with the same period of 2019, index of consumer prices increased in households of employees by 2,7 %, in household of pensioners by 3 % and in low-income households by 2,8 %.