Consumer prices in Croatia were 3.7 percent higher in April compared to the same month last year, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday, marking the lowest inflation rate since September 2021.
The CBS published a second estimate of the consumer price index, according to which the inflation rate in April was 3.7 percent compared to April 2023, while compared to the previous month, that is, March 2024, inflation rose by 0.7 percent. Thus, the CBS confirmed the first estimates of the consumer price index published at the end of April.
After inflation had been at 4.1 percent year-on-year for three consecutive months, the April increase in consumer prices of 3.7 percent is the lowest since September 2021, when it was 3.3 percent.
Looking at the main groups of the ECOICOP classification, all categories increased year-on-year except for housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which fell by 0.6 percent.
The largest increase in consumer prices on average was recorded in the category of restaurants and hotels, at 10.4 percent. This was followed by health and alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories with an increase of 5.9 percent each, transportation at 5.6 percent, education at 5.4 percent, various goods and services at five percent, recreation and culture at 4.5 percent, and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.2 percent.
Furthermore, prices in the category of household goods, household equipment, and regular household maintenance jumped by 3.1 percent, communication by 2.7 percent, and clothing and footwear by 0.9 percent.
According to the main components of the index (specific aggregates), the price increase in the services component year-on-year was 6.3 percent. Prices of food, beverages, and tobacco rose by 4.5 percent, industrial non-food products excluding energy by two percent, and energy by 1.1 percent, the CBS reported.
On a Monthly Basis, Clothing and Footwear Prices Rose the Most
On a monthly basis, the CBS statistics showed that clothing and footwear prices rose the most on average, by 5.6 percent. Prices in restaurants and hotels were on average higher by 1.8 percent, food and non-alcoholic beverages and transportation by 0.7 percent each, etc.
On the other hand, prices in the category of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels decreased by 0.8 percent on a monthly basis, and household goods, household equipment, and regular household maintenance by 0.2 percent.
According to the main components of the index, on a monthly basis, price increases were recorded for industrial non-food products excluding energy, by 1.2 percent, and for services and food, beverages, and tobacco by 0.7 percent each. In the energy component, the price drop was 0.4 percent, according to CBS data.
HIPC – Year-on-Year Inflation at 4.7 Percent
The CBS in its consumer price index statement also provides data on inflation measured by the harmonized index of consumer prices (HIPC), which is a comparable measure of inflation with European Union countries.
According to this data, prices of goods and services for personal consumption in April were on average one percent higher compared to March 2024, while compared to April 2023, they rose by 4.7 percent.
