Serbia's consumer price inflation speeded up to 2.2% y/y in December 2013 from 1.6% y/y a month earlier on a faster growth in communication charges while food and transport prices fell at a weaker pace, the statistics office said in a statement. The annual CPI inflation stayed below the lower bound of the central bank’s (NBS) target tolerance band of 2.5-5.5%, for a third straight month helped by weak domestic demand.
In monthly terms, the CPI edged up 0.2% in December, versus a 0.6% fall in November.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices shrank for the third month in a row in December but the fall softened to 2.5% from 4.3% y/y in November. Transport charges also eased their annual decline to 1.2% in December from 2% the month before.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel prices rose 7.4% y/y in December, after a 7.9% rise in November. Furnishings and household equipment prices grew 3.8% y/y in December, likewise, easing from 4.8% y/y in November. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco charges y/y growth stayed at 10.5% for the second month in a row in December. The annual growth in communication charges quickened to 5.5% in December from 4.8% in November.
| Dec-13 y/y change | Nov-13 y/y change | Dec-13 m/m change | ||
| CPI total | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | -2.5 | -4.3 | 0.3 | |
| Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics | 10.5 | 10.5 | 0.3 | |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.1 | |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 7.4 | 7.9 | -0.1 | |
| Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance | 3.8 | 4.8 | 0.1 | |
| Health | 7.6 | 9.0 | 0.0 | |
| Transport | -1.2 | -2.0 | 0.2 | |
| Communication | 5.5 | 4.8 | 0.7 | |
| Recreation and culture | 5.4 | 5.6 | 0.0 | |
| Education | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
| Restaurants and hotels | 7.9 | 8.7 | 0.1 | |
| Source: Statistics office | ||||
Related Articles
Non-performing loans hit historic low in CESEE, but early warning signs emerge, says EBRD
Non-performing loans (NPLs) in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe (CESEE) fell to their lowest levels since the global financial crisis in 2024, but early indicators suggest rising risks ... more
Orban’s new illiberal axis
Amid the furore over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Tbilisi immediately after the allegedly stolen October 26 general election, a visit by the country’s President Tamas ... more
Most Read
-
Putin to skip Rio BRICS summit over ICC warrant as Xi signals no-show
16 days ago
-
Turkey yet to prove rare earth deposit has suggested “giant” potential despite reported processing talks with China
10 months ago
-
Uproar in Mongolia as development bank reveals scale of risky loans and NPLs
3 years ago