Year-on-year, prices rose faster for transport (1.2 percent from 0.6 percent in February, the same as in the preliminary estimate) and miscellaneous goods and services (1.8 percent from 1.7 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate). On the other hand, cost slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.1 percent from 1.7 percent, below 1.3 percent in the preliminary estimate); restaurant and hotels (0.9 percent from 1 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate); housing and utilities (3.7 percent from 3.8 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate); health (0.3 percent from 0.5 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate); furnishing and household equipment (0.1 percent from 0.2 percent, below 0.2 percent in the preliminary estimate) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.3 percent from 3.5 percent, below 3.4 percent in the preliminary estimate). Meanwhile, inflation was steady for clothing and footwear (at 0.1 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate) and education (at 0.1 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate). Prices continued to fall for recreation and culture (-0.1 percent from -0.3 percent, the same as in the preliminary estimate) and communication (-7.2 percent from -7.5 percent compared to -6.5 percent in the preliminary estimate).
Annual core inflation rate, which excludes energy and unprocessed food, was steady at 0.4 percent, the same as in the prior month and below preliminary estimates of 0.5 percent. Excluding only energy, inflation edged down to 0.6 percent, after a 0.7 percent gain in February.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.3 percent, following a 0.1 percent gain in February and matching earlier estimates.
The harmonized index of consumer prices advanced 1.1 percent year-on-year, unchanged from the previous month; and rebounded month-over-month (2.3 percent from -0.3 percent in February).