Greek annual inflation rate unchanged in March

The Greek annual inflation rate was unchanged in March after rising by 0.2 pct in February and by 0.9 pct in March 2019, Hellenic Statistical Authority said on Friday. The statistics service, in a monthly report, said that price increases were recorded (on a monthly basis) only in air travel (9.1 pct), hotels (2.5 pct), pork (1.2 pct), alcohol (1.2 pct), olive oil (1.1 pct) and fresh fruit (0.7 pct).

On an annual basis, the consumer price index recorded increases in alcohol/tobacco (0.3 pct), clothing/footwear (12.2 pct), health (1.5 pct), education (0.5 pct), hotel/coffee/restaurants (0.6 pct) and price declines in food/beverages (0.1 pct), housing (2.9 pct), durable goods (1.3 pct), transport (1.5 pct), communications (1.8 pct), entertainment (1.4 pct) and other goods and services (1.0 pct).

The consumer price index rose 1.6 pct in March from February 2020, after an 1.8 pct increase recorded in the same period last year. Greece's harmonised inflation rate rose 0.2 pct in March, after rising 0.4 pct in February and 1.0 pct in March 2019. On a monthly basis, the harmonised inflation rate rose 1.2 pct, after an 1.4 pct increase recorded in the same period last year.