Price of clothing and footwear decreased

In January 2009 consumer prices increased by 0.6% compared to the previous month and rose by 3.1% compared to January 2008.

 In January 2009 compared to the
previous month food prices increased by 2.2%. Price increase was measured in case of seasonal food items
(potatoes, fresh vegetables, fruits) (13.1%), cheese and fruit and
vegetable juice (3.7-3.7%), as well as edible oil (2.9%). Food prices
excluding seasonal food items were 0.8% higher than in the previous
month. The price rise of alcoholic beverages, tobacco (1.1%) as well
as services (0.9%) was above than the average. Within services prices
of postal services grew by 6.8%, local transport by 5.6%, refuse
disposal by 5.2%. In case of consumer durable goods (0.5%) and
electricity, gas and other fuels (0.4%) the price rise was lower than
the average. Price decrease was measured in case of clothing and
footwear (5.0%), and other goods (0.7%). Within other goods price
decrease of motor fuels was 3.9%.

In January 2009 compared to January
2008 food prices rose by 4.6%, a higher-than-average rate. In this category a substantial price
increase was observed in case of pork fat (43.2%), rice, other
cereals (24.1%), pork (15.2%) as well as edible oil (12.2%). Price
decrease was measured in case of seasonal food items (12.6%). In case
of electricity, gas and other fuels prices increased by 18.5%, at a
rate higher than the average, while piped gas rose by 41.5%,
purchased heat by 16.0%. The price rise of alcoholic beverages,
tobacco (5.1%) was higher than the average too. In case of services
the price rise (3.1%) was in line with the average, prices of refuse
disposal grew by 11.3%, local transport by 6.7%. Price decrease was
measured in case of other goods (4.6%), comprising a 19.3% price
decrease of motor fuels.

Consumers paid 0.1% less for consumer
durable goods compared to January 2008. In the 27 member states of EU according
to the harmonized data the annual inflation was 2.2% in

December 2008 compared to December
2007. The lowest annual rates were observed in Luxembourg (0.7%) and
Portugal (0.8%) and the highest in Latvia (10.4%) and Lithuania
(8.5%). The price rise in Hungary was 3.4% which is higher than the
average of EU.