In the 12 months leading up to October 2024, food prices surged by 4.5%. The most pronounced hikes were observed in essential items, with flour prices up by 38.9%, milk by 16.8%, and fruit and vegetable juices by 12.1%. Other notable increases included edible oil (up 9.9%), chocolate and cocoa (up 9.8%), and butter (up 7.9%). Restaurant meals rose by 7.6%, and school meals by 6.2%. Despite these increases, some food items, like pasta products and sugar, saw price declines of 7.3% and 2.9%, respectively.
Service prices rose by 7.2% over the year, with notable increases in the cost of vehicle rentals, motorway use, and parking (up 10.6%), rents (up 10.4%), and vehicle repairs and maintenance (up 9.7%). Public entertainment tickets and personal care services saw increases of 8.9% and 9.1%, respectively. Maintenance costs for private homes grew by 8.4%, while recreational services costs rose by 5.8%.
Meanwhile, prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased by 3.8%, while electricity, gas, and other fuel costs dropped by 4.8% overall, largely due to a 9.5% decrease in gas prices. On the consumer durables front, prices declined by 0.3%, with significant decreases for second-hand passenger cars (down 7.5%), although jewelry prices increased by 11.4%.
Comparing October to the previous month, consumer prices edged up by 0.1%. Food prices increased by 0.7%, with seasonal items like potatoes, fresh vegetables, and fruit rising by 3.5%. Clothing and footwear became 3% more expensive due to seasonal factors, while motor fuel prices increased by 0.8%. Service prices declined by 0.9% month-over-month, driven by a 6.8% reduction in telephone and internet service costs.
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