Annual inflation increases marginally

ANNUAL inflation rose just marginally from 2.1% in March to 2.2% at the end of April, the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures reveal.

Cost increases measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.5% in the month compared to an increase of 0.4% in April 2004 pushing up the annual rate of inflation slightly.

The bare figures, however, conceal the fact that domestic inflation is still stubbornly high. While the annual rate of inflation for goods was 0.7% in April, the corresponding rate of services price hikes was much higher at 3.7%.