Price growth in Slovakia was more moderate in January than expected in the currently valid Finance Ministry's forecast from September last year, with the reason being mainly the capping of gas and heat prices for households, the Finance Ministry's Financial Policy Institute (IFP) stated, adding that the inflation estimate for this year will be therefore lowered in the next forecast.
Harmonised inflation in Slovakia accelerated to 4.1 percent in January from 3.2 percent in December, according to a flash estimate published by Eurostat on Monday (February 3). However, the Finance Ministry's September forecast estimated price growth at a level exceeding 5 percent, pointed out the institute.
Month-on-month, prices rose 1.6 percent in January, pushed up by higher value-added tax (VAT), said the IFP. "Prices of services rose the most (2.5 percent), followed by food prices (2.0 percent) and energy prices (1.7 percent). Surprisingly low was the rise in prices of goods (0.3 percent)," stated the institute.
Source: TASR
