In November, the Harmonised Index of consumer prices went down by 2.2 per cent to 103.62 from 105.92 in October, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday.

A 12.2 per cent fall in the restaurants and hotels index, which is covered in the HICP, underpinned this decrease and was mainly attributable to seasonal factors. A decrease of 2.4 per cent was registered in the recreation and culture index, mainly due to price reductions in computers and package holidays. A dip in the price of air passenger transport was the main cause of a 0.8 per cent decrease in the Transport Index.

During the month under review, the clothing and footwear index went up by 3.5 per cent.

This was mainly brought about by higher prices of garments. Higher prices of dairy products, vegetables, bread and cereals caused the food and non-alcoholic beverages index to rise by 1.6 per cent.

The miscellaneous goods and services index went up by 0.5 per cent, mainly due to higher prices of jewellery. An increase of 0.3 per cent in the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index was brought about by price increases in actual rents paid by tenants as well as materials related to the maintenance and repair of dwellings. The furniture index increased by 0.2 per cent, mainly on account of price increases in major household appliances, tools and miscellaneous accessories. Other marginal increases were registered in the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index and the health index.

In November, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 0.5 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.9 per cent.