Year-on-year, cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages declined by 0.4 percent, after rising 0.4 percent in January; and transport prices dropped further by 2.7 percent, accelerating from a 1.1 percent fall in the previous month.
Additional downward pressure came from: housing and utilities (-0.5 percent); and communications (-0.6 percent). In contrast, prices of restaurants and hotels (+1 percent), health (+0.4 percent), recreation and culture (+1 percent), furnishings and household equipment (+0.4 percent) and clothing and footwear (+0.5 percent) rose.
Annual core inflation rate (excluding energy and unprocessed food) was recorded at 0.5 percent.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices dropped 0.2 percent, the same pace as in the previous month and matching first estimates. Cost of food and transportation dropped 0.1 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
Harmonised consumer prices decreased by 0.2 percent year-on year and fell 0.4 percent on the month.