Consumer price index (CPI)
The consumer price index in July 2012 compared to June 2012 was 101.5%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 1.5%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (July 2012 compared to December 2011) was 2.1% and the annual inflation in July 2012 compared to July 2011 was 3.1%.
The annual average inflation, measured by CPI, in the last 12 months (August 2011 – July 2012) compared to the previous 12 months (August 2010 - July 2011) was 2.6%.
In July 2012 compared to the previous month the prices of goods and services in the main consumer groups changed as follows:
• Food and non-alcoholic beverages - an increase of 0.6%;
• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco - an increase of 0.1%;
• Clothing and footwear - a decrease of 1.0%;
• Housing (rentals, maintenance and repair), water, electricity, gas and other fuels - an increase of 6.3%;
• Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house - an increase of 0.1%;
• Health - the prices have remained at the level of the previous month;
• Transport - an increase of 1.5%;
• Communications - a decrease of 0.1%;
• Recreation and culture - an increase of 2.9%;
• Education - the prices have remained at the level of the previous month;
• Restaurants and hotels - an increase of 0.5%;
• Miscellaneous goods and services - a decrease of 0.1%.
Price index of a small basket (PISB)
The price index of a small basket in July 2012 compared to June 2012 was 102.2% and the overall increase since the beginning of the year (July 2012 compared to December 2011) has been 102.3%.
In July compared to the previous month the prices of goods and services in the small basket for the 20% households with the lowest income, changed as follows:
• Food products - an increase of 0.6%;
• Non-food products - an increase of 0.1%
• Services - an increase of 8.4%.
More detailed information can be found on the NSI internet website http://www.nsi.bg/EPDOCS/Inflation2012-07_en.pdf