The CNB comments on the December 2003 inflation figures

9.1.2004

 

The Czech Statistical Office today released the consumer price inflation figures for December. Month-on month inflation was 0.1 percentage point higher than predicted by the CNB. The deviation almost exclusively reflects the evolution of non-food market prices excluding fuel prices. These prices were flat and so their month-on-month inflation was slightly lower than forecast in October. Food prices increased in December in line with the forecast, as did the other sub-categories of the consumer basket.

The CNB continues to expect annual consumer price inflation to pick up at the beginning of 2004. It will be affected primarily by the one-off impact of changes to indirect taxes and growth in regulated prices.

Pavel Zúbek
CNB communications division