Acceleration to 2.6%on an annual basis, inflation was noted in December, up from 2.4% in November, with significant increases recorded in the sectors of clothing and footwear, hotels-cafes-restaurants, health and housing, but with prices in the food and non-alcoholic drinks group recorded a slight decrease.

In particular, the General Consumer Price Index rose in December to 2.6%, compared to a 3.5% increase recorded during the corresponding comparison of 2023 with 2022.

The General CPI also showed a slight increase compared to November, when up 0.1%against a decrease of 0.1% recorded during the corresponding comparison of the previous year.

Average annual inflation stood at 2.7% last year from 3.5% in 2023

Significant price increases in clothing-shoes, health, housing

According to ELSTAT data, strong inflationary pressures were recorded during the last month of 2024 in the category of Clothing and footwearwith the relative index showing an increase of 6.2%, as well as in the category Hotels-Cafes-Restaurants (5.9%).

The group also showed a significant increase Healthwith +3.8%, mainly due to the increase in prices in pharmaceutical products, medical products, medical-dental and paramedical services, hospital care, but also the group Housingmainly due to price increases in house rents, home repair and maintenance costs, electricity and natural gas, although part of this increase was offset by a decrease in prices mainly in heating oil and solid fuels.

Slight de-escalation of food prices

On the contrary, prices in the group recorded a small decrease Food and non-alcoholic beverageswith the relative index falling by 0.3%, mainly due to the decrease in prices of bakery and confectionery products, pizzas and pies, pasta, poultry, frozen seafood, dairy and eggs, oils and fats, fresh fruit and other foods.

Part of the decrease in food items was however compensated by the increase in prices mainly in bread, breakfast cereals, beef, pork, fresh fish, dried fruits and nuts, sugar-chocolates-sweets-ice creams, mineral water-soft drinks-fruit juices.