Upward pressures came mostly from cost of alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+7.9 percent), and services (1.8 percent). On the other hand, prices fell for electricity, gas and other fuels (-10.0 percent), motor fuels (-1.1 percent), clothing and footwear (-0.4 percent), and consumer durable goods (-0.2 percent).
On a monthly basis, prices increased 0.2 percent compared to 0.3 percent in February. Higher prices were recorded for clothing and footwear (0.6 percent) due to the seasonal change, and for other goods including motor fuels and lubricants (0.5 percent).
Food cost increased by 0.1 percent due to higher prices for milk (1.8 percent), potatoes, fresh vegetables and fruits (0.8 percent). Price fall was registered for oil (2.9 percent), egg (1.4 percent), pork (1.2 percent), and flour (1.0 percent). Prices of electricity, gas and other fuels showed no change.
Core CPI increased 0.10 percent from February to March of 2014. The annual rate increased to 2.7 percent in March.