Bulgaria Registers 4.6% CPI Annual Inflation in April 2011

The consumer price index (CPI) in Bulgaria in April, 2011, compared to March 2011 was 100.2%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.2%.

The data was released Thursday by the National Statistics Institute, NSI.

The group 'food and non-alcoholic beverages' had the largest upward impact on the total CPI that measures the change in prices of the goods and services, used by Bulgarian households for private (non-production) consumption.

The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (April 2011 compared to December 2010) was 2.7% and the annual inflation in April 2011 compared to April 2010 was 4.6%

The annual average inflation, measured by CPI, in the last 12 months (May 2010 - April 2011) compared to the previous 12 months (May 2009 - April 2010) was 3.7%.

In April, 2011, compared to the previous month the prices of goods and services in the main consumer groups have changed as follows: food and non-alcoholic beverages - an increase of 0.7%; alcoholic beverages and tobacco - a decrease of 0.1%; Clothing and footwear - an increase of 3.4%; housing (rentals, maintenance and repair), water, electricity, gas and other fuels - the prices have remained at the level of the previous month; furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house - a decrease of 0.2%; Health - an increase of 0.1%; transport - a decrease of 1.3%; communications - the prices have remained at the level of the previous month; recreation and culture - a decrease of 1.9%; education - an increase of 0.2%; restaurants and hotels - an increase of 0.3%; miscellaneous goods and service - an increase of 0.2%.

The harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) in April 2011 compared to March 2011 was 99.9%, i.e. the monthly inflation was -0.1%.

The group 'Transport' had the biggest downward impact on the total HICP that measures the change in prices of the goods and services, consumed by all households (including foreign households) on the economic territory of the country. Differences between CPI and HICP are due to different coverage of the HICP and CPI in respect of treatment of the consumption by both non-resident and institutional households.

The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (April 2011 compared to December 2010) was 1.3% and the annual inflation in April 2011 compared to April 2010 was 3.3%.

The annual average inflation, measured by HICP, in the last 12 months (May 2010 - April 2011) compared to the previous 12 months (May 2009 - April 2010) was 3.7%.

In terms of HICP, in April, 2011, compared to the previous month the prices of goods and services in the main consumer groups have been changed as follows: food and non-alcoholic beverages - an increase of 0.7%; alcoholic beverages and tobacco - the prices have remained at the level of the previous month; clothing and footwear - an increase of 2.9%; housing (rentals, maintenance and repair), water, electricity, gas and other fuels - an increase of 0.1%; furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house - the prices have remained at the level of the previous month; health - an increase of 0.1%; transport - a decrease of 0.8%; communications - a decrease of 0.1%; recreation and culture - a decrease of 2.0%; education - an increase of 0.2%; restaurants and hotels - a decrease of 0.9%; miscellaneous goods and service - an increase of 0.2%.

The price index of a small basket (PISB) in April 2011 compared to March 2011 was 100.4% and the overall increase since the beginning of the year (April 2011 compared to December 2010) was 104.5%

In March, compared to the previous month the prices of goods and services in the small basket for the 20% households with the lowest income, have changed as follows: food products - an increase of 0.5%; non-food products - an increase of 0.2%; services - an increase of 0.1%.