Inflation slows down: in March, according to Istat, the national consumer price index, gross of tobacco, increased by 0,2% compared to the previous month and by 1,6% on an annual basis against 1,9% in February, at its lowest since September 2010. Also in March, the prices of the products most frequently purchased by consumers increased by 0,1% on a monthly basis and by 2% on an annual basis, a further slowdown from 2,4% in February.
The slowdown in inflation is mainly due to the marked deceleration of the annual growth of prices of unregulated energy goods (+0,2%, from +2,9% in February), i.e. fuels, whose trend variation in March was even negative, down by 0,5%.
The acquired inflation for 2013 is equal to 1%. Core inflation, calculated net of energy goods and unprocessed food, also fell, going from 1,5% in February to 1,4% (+1,5% in February).
The harmonized Ipca index increased by 2,3% on the month (due to the end of the winter sales) and by 1,8% on the year (from 2% in February). The index for blue and white collar households (Foi), net of tobacco, increased by 0,2% on a monthly basis and by 1,6% on an annual basis.
