Average costs unchanged in September

Consumer prices remained stagnant in September, despite significant increases for certain goods and services.

According to figures published by Statec, excluding fuel prices rose on average 0.02 percent.

The biggest increases were recorded in the cost of postal services (19 percent), air travel (up 10.3 percent), fresh vegetables (up 2.8 percent) and private tuition (up 2.1 percent).

These increases were absorbed by cheaper prices found in areas such package holidays (-4.7 percent), fresh fruit (-1.7 percent), pork (-4.2 percent) and dried or smoked fish and seafood (-4.5 percent).

Fuel prices fell for the fourth consecutive month, dropping 3.2 percent compared with August. Petrol buyers enjoyed the biggest benefit with petrol dropping 6.9 percent and diesel 1.9 percent.

Heating fuel was 4 percent cheaper compared to the month before while gas remained unchanged. Compared to September 2014, fuel prices fell 16.4 percent.

The underlying inflation rate continued on its upward trajectory, reaching 1.8 percent in September. Annual inflation remained low from 0.6 percent in August to 0.5 percent in September.

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