Prices of food and beverages increased at a faster 12.9 percent (12 percent in December) while cost of housing grew at a slightly slower pace (16.46 percent from 18.31 percent in December) and transport inflation was steady (10.1 percent from 10.16 percent in December).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 1.27 percent, the biggest rise since March last year and the highest for a January month since 2003. The strongest upward pressure came from food and beverages (up 2.28 percent), the highest increase since December of 2002 and transport (up 1.77 percent) while clothing prices declined 0.25 percent.