Bulgaria registered 0.3% deflation in February compared to January

According to the latest figures of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) released on 14 March, the index of consumer prices stood at 99.7% in February this year compared to the previous month. This means that Bulgaria registered a monthly deflation of 0.3% compared to January

Compared to the same month last year, there was an annual deflation of 0.5%.

The average yearly inflation in the period between March 2015 and February 2016 was 0%.

In February, there were increases in the prices of food products and soft drinks (0.5%), alcoholic drinks and tobacco products (0.2%), healthcare (0.2%) and education (0.2%).

In the second month of this year, there were decreases in the prices of clothing and shoes (2.8%), transport (3.2%), messages (0.1%), entertainment and culture (0.5%).

The prices of housing and utility bills as well as hotel and restaurant services retained their levels from the previous month.

The prices of the following food products decreased: white bread, rice, flour, pasta, pork meat, poultry meat, minced meat, eggs, milk, apples, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, leaf vegetables, fresh vegetable herbs, vinegar, fruit juices and beer.

There were increases in the prices of the following products: dry sweets, sugar, white cheese, yellow cheese, margarine, lentils, potatoes, cabbage, onion, garlic, carrots, citrus and southern fruits, coffee, brandy.

As regards non-food goods and services, there were drops in the prices of clothing and shoes, refrigerators, cleaning products, gas and liquid fuels for household needs, diesel fuel, A95H and A98H petrol, short-term accommodation, personal hygiene products

The prices of the following non-food goods and services increased: cigarettes; waste collection and removal taxes, woods for heating, washing machines, restaurant and cafe services, cosmetic products.

In February, the prices of medical products and dental services increased by respectively 0.2% and 0.3%, while the prices of medical services retained their level from the previous month.

The final figures of NSI are showing there was monthly inflation of 0 % in the first month of this year.