In March, the annual rate of in?ation as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices stood at 1.4 per cent. 

In the month under review, the annual rate of in? ation was 1.4 per cent.  A year earlier the annual rate stood at the same level.

The main upward impacts were brought about by the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Index (0.4 percentage points), the Restaurants and Hotels Index (0.3 percentage points), and the Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index (0.3 percentage points). This was mainly due to price rises of cigarettes, restaurant services and furniture items respectively.

The twelve-month moving average rate was 0.8 per cent.