Consumer price indices, Slovenia, January 2007

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In January prices down by 0.7%
For the third consecutive year deflation was recorded in January. Compared to a month before consumer prices went down by 0.7%.

The fall in prices was mostly the result of lower prices of goods, since on average goods were cheaper by 1.3%. Among goods, prices of semi-durable goods fell the most (on average by 8.2%). Prices of durable goods decreased by 0.1% while prices of non-durable goods increased on average by 0.3%. For the third month in a row prices of services went up; this time on average by 0.7%.

Winter sales and petroleum products lowered the inflation
In January lower prices were recorded in groups clothing and footwear (on average by 11.9%), transport (by 0.7%) and housing, water, electricity, gas and other (by 0.6%).

As in January last year, this January was also marked by winter sales of clothing and footwear. Due to sales, clothing was on average 12.7% cheaper, while prices of footwear went down by 11.6%, of other articles of clothing and clothing accessories by 3.6%, clothing materials by 0.8% and services for clothing by 0.5%.
The movement of prices in the group transport was the result of lower prices of second-hand motor cars (by 3.4%), motor fuels (by 1.8%) and passenger transport by air (by 11%). On the other hand, in the mentioned group prices of services related to transport equipment went up by 1% and prices of new motor cars by 0.5%. It has to be mentioned that parking was 10% more expensive.
The fall of prices in the group housing, water, electricity, gas and other was mostly the result of lower prices of liquid fuels (on average by 4.9%), gas (by 1.6%), heat energy (by 1.5%) and electricity (by 0.8%). Electricity was cheaper due to lower prices of using the electricity power grid. In this group a 1.6% rise in prices of municipal services has to be pointed out as a result of the 5% rise in refuse collection prices because of the start of separate collection of biological waste in Ljubljana. In January solid fuels were 2.5% more expensive, while the prices of maintenance and repair of dwelling went up by 1% and rents by 0.8%.

Lower prices of clothing and footwear pushed the inflation rate down by 1 percentage point, while prices of liquid and motor fuels contributed 0.2 of a percentage point and prices of second-hand motor cars 0.1 of a percentage point.

In January higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, services in restaurants and cafes, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco
Higher prices were recorded in the following groups: food and non-alcoholic beverages (on average by 1.7%), restaurants and hotels (by 1.4%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (by 0.7%), health (by 0.5%), furnishing, household equipment and maintenance, and recreation and culture (by 0.4%), communication (by 0.3%) and miscellaneous goods and services, and education (by 0.1%).
The traditional growth of prices in the group food and non-alcoholic beverages at the start of the year was this time the result of higher prices of beverages (on average by 1.8%) and food (on average by 1.7%). In this group prices of vegetables rose by 8.3%, of mineral waters, soft drinks and juices by 2.8%, of bread and cereals by 2.6%, and of milk, cheese and eggs by 0.9%. On the other hand, fruit was 1% cheaper.
In January in the group restaurants and hotels prices of accommodation services increased on average by 1.6% and of catering services by 1.3%. Among accommodation services, accommodation in hotels was up by 2.6%. Among catering services, prices in restaurants and cafes rose by 2% while prices in canteens fell by 0.5%.
Higher prices were also registered in the group alcoholic beverages and tobacco because tobacco was on average 0.9% more expensive and alcoholic beverages 0.3%.
Another increase happened in the group health. Prices of hospital services and prices of outpatient services increased by 1%, while prices of medical products and appliances remained the same.
Despite lower prices of package holidays (by 0.5%), goods and services in the group recreation and culture were on average 0.4% more expensive. Prices of recreational and sport services and prices of gardens, plants and flowers were up by 3.5%. On account of winter sales, prices of sports equipment decreased on average by 3.8%.

Higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages contributed 0.3 of a percentage point to the inflation rate, while goods and services in the group recreation and culture, higher prices in restaurants and hotels and other increases added 0.1 of a percentage point.

Annual growth of prices slightly down
The annual inflation rate was slightly lower at 2.7%, while the 12-month average price growth remained at the level of December 2006, i.e. 2.5%.

In one year prices increased the most in these groups: restaurants and hotels (on average by 6.9%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (by 5.5%), furnishing, household equipment and maintenance (by 5.1%),

miscellaneous goods and services (by 5%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (by 4%), and clothing and footwear (by 3.6%). Goods and services in the groups transport and housing, water, electricity, gas and other were on average 0.4% and 0.1% lower than a year before.

In one year in the group restaurants and hotels prices of catering services grew the most (on average by 7.6%), especially prices in restaurants and cafes (by 9.8%). On average, accommodation services were 3.8% more expensive.

In the group alcoholic beverages and tobacco in one year prices of tobacco were up by 7.5% and of alcoholic beverages by 2.2%.

In the group furnishing, household equipment and maintenance in one year the highest rise was recorded in goods for routine household maintenance (on average by 12.4%), while repair of household appliances was 7.4% and furniture and furnishings 4.7% more expensive.

Compared to January 2006, services were on average 4.9% more expensive, while prices of goods increased by 1.6%. Among goods, in one year prices of semi-durable goods rose the most (by 2.9%), followed by prices of non-durable goods, which increased by 2.2%. On the other hand, durable goods were 1.7% cheaper than a year ago.