Transportation costs fall 4.5% (vs -3.4% in December), while price grew a softer pace in food & non-alcoholic beverages (2.4% vs 3%).

Inflation also decelerated for alcoholic beverages & tobacco (5.2% vs 6.5%), furnishings (3.1% vs 4.3%), health (2.6% vs 3.3%), and miscellaneous goods & services (2.3% vs 2.4%).

On the other hand, it picked up for clothing & footwear (3.6% vs 2%) and housing & utilities (6.4% vs 5.9%). On a monthly comparison basis, inflation inched up 0.3%, as much as in December.