Cyprus inflation eases slightly in March

Consumer price inflation eased slightly in March, as the CPI index recorded a rise of 4.7% over March 2007, compared with a year-on-year rate of 4.9% in February.

Compared with the previous month, prices rose by 1.01%, having risen by 0.5% in February.

The Statistical Service Cystat reported that this was mainly owing to increases in the prices of certain clothing and footwear items, certain fresh fruit as well as petroleum products.

Prices of food, non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco thus rose by only 0.49% month on month in March compared with  2.01% in February.

By contrast, the price of transport (which incorporates petrol costs) rose by 1.10% in March compared with a fall of 0.15% in February.

Decreases were recorded in the prices of certain fresh vegetables and soft drinks.

For the period January-March 2008, the CPI recorded an increase of 4.7% compared to the corresponding period of 2007.