Year-on-year, prices slowed for housing & utilities (3.0 percent compared to 3.1 percent in Q4 2018), of which rentals for housing (2.4 percent), construction (3.6 percent), and local authority rates (5.1 percent); recreation & culture (0.8 percent compared to 2.1 percent); and miscellaneous goods & services (2.5 percent compared to 2.9 percent). Additionally, prices dropped for transport (-0.1 percent compared to 3.5 percent); and household contents and services (-0.8 percent compared to 0.6 percent). Also, cost of communication continued to fall (-3.7 percent, the same as in Q4), namely telecommunication equipment (-23 percent).
On the other hand, prices went up further for the food group (1.3 percent compared to 0.6 percent); and alcoholic beverages & tobacco (4.2 percent compared to 3.8 percent), mostly cigarettes and tobacco (7.7 percent). In addition, cost of clothing & footwear declined less (-0.6 percent compared to -1.0 percent) and prices of education rebounded (1.7 percent compared to -5.5 percent).
On a quarterly basis, consumer prices increased 0.1 percent, unchanged from the previous period and below market forecasts of 0.3 percent.