Inflation in Moldova reached 4.2% in 2023 against 30.24% a year earlier.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported this, noting that, in particular, the average consumer prices in December 2023, compared to December 2022 (over the last 12 months) increased by 4.2%. At the same time, food prices rose by an average of 4.62%, non-food prices - by 4.61%, while tariffs for services provided to the population increased by 2.52%. As noted by the NBS, in 2023, prices for the following food products increased more markedly: fruits and vegetables - by about 12%, meat and canned meat, milk and dairy products - by more than 3%, bread - by 2.2%. At the same time, prices for the following foodstuff decreased during the reporting period: vegetable oil - by 21.1% and sugar - by 4.1%. The growth of consumer prices for non-food products in 2023 was mainly due to an increase in prices for footwear and clothing - by 9.6% and 5.8%, respectively, materials for house maintenance and repair - by 4.3%. At the same time, consumer prices for fuels and fuel decreased by about 1.4%, including coal became cheaper by 32.3%, liquefied gas by 13.1%, diesel fuel by 10.4%, and gasoline by 3.6%. With regard to services provided to the population, the NBS noted that in 2023, prices for water supply and sewage services increased by 24.6%, passenger transport services rose by 20.8% (prices for air passenger transport services increased significantly - 2.3 times), public catering services - by 6.5%. At the same time, in 2023, regulated tariffs for electricity supply decreased by about 43%, and for natural gas supply services - by 12.1% (taking into account compensations provided by the government to the population). The NBS said that the government's provision of compensation for energy bills for household consumers (natural gas, electricity and thermal energy) helped mitigate the annual increase in average consumer prices by 1.3%. // 11.01.2024 - InfoMarket.
