Published on: 11 August 2020

Prices increased by 3.8% in July

Consumer prices were 3.8% higher on average in July 2020 than a year earlier. Significant price rises were measured over the past year for food as well as alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

In 12 months, compared to July 2019:

Food prices went up by 7.8%, within which the price of seasonal food items (potatoes, fresh vegetables and fresh domestic and tropical fruits together) became 17.1%, that of other meat preparations 16.1%, the price of sugar 14.5%, salami, sausages and ham prices 11.5% and the price of eggs 8.9% higher. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco became an average 6.3%, within which tobacco – mainly due to an increase in the excise duty on this product group – 9.7% more expensive. Motor fuel prices were cut by 4.2%.

In one month, compared to June 2020:

Consumer prices went up by 1.1% on average. Food prices rose by 0.1%, the 2.2% reduction in the price of seasonal food items (potatoes, fresh vegetables and fruits) only partly offset the 0.4% increase in non-seasonal food items prices. Within seasonal food items, fresh domestic and tropical fruits – instead of their usual price decrease in July of earlier years – became 3.3% more expensive, the price change differing from the seasonal one was owing to the lower-than-usual supply because of the unfavourable weather. Within non-seasonal food items, edible oil became 2.2%, eggs 1.9%, milk 1.3% and bread 1.0% more expensive, while potatoes 6.4% and pork 3.9% cheaper. There was a rise in the excise duty on tobacco from 1 July, which led to a 1.4% increase in the price of the product group. Services became 1.4% more expensive, within which – as an effect of the abolition of free public parking – motorway toll and the charges for renting a car and parking became 31.1% and those for recreational services 7.6% higher. As an impact of rising oil prices and excise duty, motor fuels cost 8.1% more for consumers.

In January–July 2020 compared to the same period of the previous year:

Consumer prices increased by 3.5% on average.

Consumer price indices, July 2020

(%)

Denomination Previous month = 100.0 Corresponding month of previous year = 100.0
Consumer price index101.1103.8
Harmonised consumer price index101.2103.9
Core inflation (original, seasonally unadjusted)a)100.8104.5
Consumer price index for pensioners100.8104.3

a) Seasonally adjusted indices are available in Summary tables (STADAT), in Table 3.6.6.