Malta’s Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) slowed to 1% in January 2019 from 1.2% in December 2018, according to the latest figures published by the Maltese National Statistics Office (NSO). The twelve-month moving average rate was 1.7%.
The most significant upward impact on annual inflation was measured in the Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index, while the most considerable downward impact was recorded in the Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance Index, the NSO says in its report.
The highest inflation in January was registered in the food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.3%) and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (2.3%). The lowest inflation rates in January was measured in clothing and footwear (-4.5%) and education (-4.4%)
HICP measures the monthly price changes in the cost of purchasing a representative basket of consumer goods and services, and is calculated according to the rules specified in a series of European Union regulations developed by the Eurostat in conjunction with the EU member states, the NSO says about its methodology.
The full report including charts and visual representation of data is available for download at the website of NSO.