The average annual inflation rate slowed to 6.7% in 2019 from an average of 7.3% a year earlier, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
In December 2019, inflation was slightly down on November, dropping from 6.3% to 6.1% after reaching 6.5% in October.
Indeed, despite an up and down evolution, inflation was on a resolute downward trend, falling from 7.5% in December 2018 to 6.1% in December 2019.
Food products
Food prices increased by 5.8% year-on-year in December 2019 (6.3% in November 2019).
This increase is explained by the rise in fruit prices by +9.7%, meat prices by +9.1% and cheese and egg prices by +7.3 coupled with a drop in edible oil prices by 6.9% compared to December 2018.
Manufactured goods and services
Over one year, prices of manufactured goods rose by 7.7% due to the increase in prices of household cleaning products by 10.2% and building materials prices by 7.9%.
For services, prices went up 4.6% year-on-year due to the rise in prices of health services by 9.1% and rents by 5.3% against a stable price level for public services.
Core and administered product inflation
Core inflation (excluding food and energy) was 6.6%, compared with 6.7% in November, 6.8% in October and 6.9% in September 2019.
Prices of free (non-administered) products went up 6.4% compared to 5.2% for administered prices.
Free food products increased by +6.5% against +2.3% for administered food products.
