Ljubljana, 28 February (STA) - The annual inflation rate in Slovenia in February was down by 0.4 percentage points from January to 1.6%, largely driven by higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up by 0.3%, mostly owing to more expensive holiday packages, the Statistics Office announced on Friday.
While consumer prices increased by 1.6% compared to February 2024, the inflation rate that month was more than twice higher, at 3.4%.
The prices of services went up by 3.2% on average, and the prices of goods by 0.7%.
Having the greatest impact on the annual inflation rate in February were the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased by 2.8% on average to contribute 0.5 percentage points to the rate.
The prices of products and services in transport were up by 2.7% to add 0.4 points to the rate, while a 4.6% increase in the prices of services in restaurants and hotels accounted for a 0.3 point contribution.
On the other hand, the prices in the segment covering housing and the supply of water, electricity, gas and other fuels decreased by 4.6% on average to mitigate the inflation rate by 0.6 percentage points.
On a monthly basis, the inflation rate in February was 0.3%, mostly owing to a 10.9% increase in the prices of holiday packages, and clothing getting more expensive by 2.8% on average.
On the other hand, energy-related prices mitigated the rate the most, with electricity prices, for instance, dropping by 20.1%.
Measured with the EU-compatible harmonised index of consumer prices, Slovenia's annual inflation reached 1.9%, which is 1.5 percentage points lower than in February 2024. The monthly price growth was at 0.2%.
