The consumer price index in March 2018 compared to February 2018 was 99.7%, i.e. the monthly inflation was -0.3%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (March 2018 compared to December 2017) has been 0.3% and the annual inflation in March 2018 compared to March 2017 was 2.2%. The annual average inflation, measured by CPI, in the last 12 months (April 2017 - March 2018) compared to the previous 12 months (April 2016 - March 2017) was 2.2%.

In March 2018 compared to the previous month the prices of goods and services in the main consumer groups changed as follows:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages - a decrease of  0.4%;

• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco - an increase of  0.3%;

• Clothing and footwear - a decrease of  0.5%;

• Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels - an increase of  0.1%;

• Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house - a decrease of  0.1%;

• Health - a decrease of  0.1%;

• Transport - a decrease of  0.6%;

• Communications - an increase of  0.2%;

• Recreation and culture - a decrease of  3.4%;

• Education - the prices remained at the level of the previous month;

 • Restaurants and hotels - an increase of  0.1%;

• Miscellaneous goods and service - an increase of  0.6%.