Prices slowed mostly for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.3% vs 1.8% in January); transport (0.9% vs 2%); furnishings (2% vs 2.2%) and miscellaneous goods and services (3.4% vs 3.5%).

In addition, costs fell for housing utilities by 0.3%, clothing and footwear went down by 3.1% and prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco also decreased by 0.7%.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices dropped 0.2%, after increasing 0.8% in the previous month, KAS said on March 10.