January inflation: certain food prices down in Georgia

Prices of certain food products, including oils and fats, vegetables, bread and cereals, milk, cheese and eggs, decreased year-on-year across Georgia in January, the National Statistics Office said on Friday.

Specifically, year-on-year prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased by 2.4 percent, with numbers for the specific products as follows:

• Oils and fats: -15.9 percent
• Vegetables: -11.3 percent
• Bread and cereals: -9 percent
• Milk, cheese and eggs: -4.1 percent

At the same time, the prices increased for the following subgroups: 

• Fruit and grapes: 19.7 percent
• Meat: 6.1 percent
• Mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices: 2.9 percent
• Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery: 2.7 percent
• Fish: 1.9 percent
• Coffee, tea and cocoa: 1.3 percent

The annual inflation rate was also influenced by price changes for miscellaneous goods and services (+9.2 percent), transport (+4.3 percent), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+3.5 percent), and healthcare (-3.3 percent).

Overall, the consumer price index in January increased by 0.3 percent compared to the previous month, while the annual inflation rate amounted to 0 percent.

Month-on-month, prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 1.7 percent, the Office said.

Healthcare-related costs increased by 1.1 percent, with prices higher for medical products, appliances and equipment (by 1.5 percent), hospital services (0.8 percent) and outpatient services (0.3 percent).

Prices for furnishings, household equipment and maintenance increased by 1.4 percent with the specific breakdown as follows:

• Furniture and furnishings, carpets and other floor coverings: 4.1 percent
• Goods and services for routine household maintenance: 2.4 percent

The group of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels saw a decrease in prices by 3.6 percent. Prices were lower for electricity, gas and other fuels (-5.3 percent) and actual rentals for housing (-1.6 percent).