Hungary’s inflation falls to 2.1 pc in December

Hungarian inflation was an annual 2.1 percent in December, slowing from 2.5 percent in November, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday.

For the full year, consumer prices were up an annual 2.4 percent in 2017.

Food prices rose by 3.5 percent and the price of tobacco and spirits jumped by 6.8 percent. Clothing prices edged up 0.5 percent and consumer durable prices were 0.4 percent lower.

Household energy prices increased by 1.6 percent, the price of goods in the category that includes vehicle fuel edged up 0.8 percent, with vehicle fuel prices up 0.5 percent. Service prices were up 1.1 percent.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, was 2.6 percent in December and 2.3 percent on average in 2017.

Inflation adjusted for a basket of goods and services used by pensioners was 2.3 percent both in December and in the full year 2017.

In a month-on-month comparison, CPI was 0.0 percent as food prices edged up 0.1 percent, service prices were up 0.3 percent and the price of household energy inched up 0.2 percent. Prices of consumer durables and tobacco and spirits edged down 0.1 percent and clothing prices were 0.2 percent lower. Vehicle fuel prices fell by 1.2 percent.