The national consumer price index for the whole community, gross of tobacco, recorded a 0,2% increase in January compared to the previous month and by 2,2% on an annual basis, in line with provisional estimates. This was communicated by Istat, specifying that it is the lowest level since January 2011.
The slowdown in inflation from 2,3% in December is mainly explained by the clear slowdown in the growth on an annual basis in the prices of energy goods, from +9,3% in December to +5,4%, offset however at least partially by the increase in the prices of unprocessed food and, in particular, of fresh vegetables (+9,2% on a monthly basis, +13,1% on an annual basis).
THEacquired inflation for 2013 is equal to 0,8%, while core inflation in January, ie net of energy goods and unprocessed foodstuffs, rose to 1,7% (it was +1,6% in December).
Month-on-month, the prices of products most frequently purchased by consumers increased by 0,4%, while year-on-year growth was 2,7%, down from 3,1% in December. The harmonized index of consumer prices in January 2013 decreased by 2,0% compared to the previous month, while it increased by 2,4% on an annual basis.
Istat also noted the growth in February of consumer confidence climate, which rose to 86 points from 84,7 the previous month. The component referring to the personal climate grew sharply (from 89,3 to 91,7), while that relating to the general economic climate was very slight, going from 72,7 points to 72,9.
