The CNB comments on the January 2004 inflation figures

9.2.2004

 

The Czech Statistical Office today released the consumer price inflation figures for January 2004. Month-on-month inflation was slightly higher than predicted by the CNB. The deviation exclusively reflects the evolution of non-food market prices excluding fuel prices. The evolution of other sub-categories of the consumer basket and annual inflation figures in January were in principle in line with the CNB forecast.

As of 1 January 2004, a number of commodities saw changes to indirect taxes. Food prices have not yet risen on these grounds (due to the final sale of inventories) but they can be expected to rise in the next few months. On the contrary, tax changes have passed into non-food prices.

Pavlína Bolfová, CNB spokesperson