Bosnia's consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.5% y/y in September following a 0.2% y/y decline the month before on falling food, clothing and footwear and health costs, the country's statistics office said. In monthly terms, the CPI recorded 0.0% growth in September after edging down 0.3% m/m in August. The 12-month average inflation ending September slowed to 0.7% from 1.0% a month earlier.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices swung to a 1.5% y/y drop in September from 0.4% y/y increase in August. Clothing and footwear prices deflation narrowed to 2.4% y/y in September from 12.0% the month before. Health prices contracted 1.8% y/y in September after dropping 1.6% in August. Transport charges shrank 3.0% y/y in September for a second straight month after declining 2.1% in August likewise pushing the overall index down.
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco charges continued increasing, rising 6.2% y/y in September, despite easing from a 6.4% y/y increase in August.
Bosnia’s CPI inflation averaged 2.1% in 2012, down from 3.7% the year before due to slower food and transport prices growth. It is expected to remain moderate at 1.8% in 2013, reflecting subdued private consumption and IMF-enforced austerity measures under the country's EUR 390mn deal with the fund.
| Bosnia's CPI inflation, y/y,% | Dec-11 | Dec -12 | May-13 | Jun-13 | Jul-13 | Aug-13 | Sep-13 |
| TOTAL | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | -0.2 | -0.5 |
| Food and beverages | 3.6 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | -1.5 |
| Tobacco and alcoholic beverages | 8.9 | 9.9 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | -6.6 | -6.2 | -3.1 | -2.8 | -2.7 | -12.0 | -2.4 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Household furnishings | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Health | -0.7 | -0.7 | -2.1 | -1.6 | -1.8 | -1.6 | -1.8 |
| Transport | 6.9 | 2.5 | -2.4 | -0.6 | 0.1 | -2.1 | -3.0 |
| Communications | 5.3 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Recreation and culture | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| Education | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Other services and goods | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Source: Institute of statistics |
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