Food prices were among the main drivers of annual inflation, rising 7% year-on-year. Sharp increases were observed in staple products such as flour (up 42.2%), edible oil (32.7%), and eggs (26.1%). Other significant gains included coffee (18.6%), chocolate and cocoa (17.6%), and milk (16.7%). At the same time, some food items experienced modest deflation, with pasta products down 0.8% and other meat preparations falling 1.4%.
Service prices rose 7.5% over the same period, driven by double-digit increases in rents (11.8%), postal services (11.3%), and vehicle repair and maintenance (10.3%). Personal care services and dwelling maintenance also posted rises close to 10%.
Prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products increased 5.5% overall, with alcoholic beverages alone up 5.7%. Consumer durables posted a more modest rise of 2.1%, though specific items such as jewelry saw a sharp 21.0% increase. New passenger car prices rose 6.1%, while second-hand cars became 2.0% cheaper.
Energy prices offered some relief, falling by 2.7% year-on-year. Natural and manufactured gas prices declined by 5.5%, and firewood was down 5.1%. However, butane and propane gas prices jumped 10.2%. Motor fuel prices fell 2.5%, while pharmaceutical product prices increased by 3.1%.
On a monthly basis, prices were unchanged overall in March compared to February. Food prices remained steady on average, though notable fluctuations were seen within specific categories. Edible oil rose 4.1%, chocolate and cocoa climbed 3.4%, and poultry meat was up 1.2%. At the same time, margarine prices fell 9.9%, milk and milk products dropped 5.4%, and butter was down 5.1%.
Clothing and footwear saw the highest monthly increase at 1.2%, while services were 0.3% more expensive than in February. Price hikes were recorded for domestic recreation (1.7%), personal care services (1.4%), and vehicle maintenance (0.9%). Alcoholic beverages rose 0.8% month-on-month.
Motor fuel prices posted a significant monthly drop of 4.1%, contributing to an overall 0.2% decline in energy costs. Gas prices were down 0.7% from the previous month.
While the inflation rate continues to moderate from its earlier highs, sector-specific pressures—particularly in food and services—suggest that cost-of-living concerns remain relevant for households and policymakers alike.
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