Year-on-year, prices rose at a softer pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (4.7 percent compared to 5.4 percent in February); transport (1.4 percent compared to 1.6 percent) and clothing and footwear (3.2 percent compared to 3.3 percent). Also, cost eased for restaurants and hotels (0.8 percent compared to 0.9 percent); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.0 percent compared to 2.3 percent) and miscellaneous goods and services (1.2 percent compared to 2.7 percent). In addition, prices slowed for recreation and culture (1.1 percent compared to 1.5 percent) and education (2.4 percent compared to 2.5 percent) and continued to drop for communication (-0.2 percent, the same as in February). Meanwhile, cost advanced faster for housing and utilities (10.4 percent compared to 8.6 percent) and furnishing and household equipment (1.9 percent compared to 1.6 percent). Additionaly, inflation was steady for health (1.6 percent, the same as in February).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 1.2 percent, after a 1.1 percent gain in February. Prices of food advanced further to 2.1 percent from 1.4 percent, namely rice (+3.8 percent); maize grains (+4.1 percent) and vegetables (+5.3 percent).
Annual core inflation, which excludes food and energy, went up 1.6 percent, down from a 1.7 percent increase in the previous month.