DZS: Inflation at 4% in January – second estimate
ZAGREB, 24 Feb (Hina) – Consumer prices in Croatia were 4% higher in January compared to the same month last year, according to data published on Monday by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS), marking the fourth consecutive month of accelerating annual price growth.
The DZS released its second estimate of the Consumer Price Index, confirming that the inflation rate in January stood at 4% compared to January 2024. On a monthly basis, prices increased by 0.1% compared to December 2024.
With this, DZS confirmed its initial inflation estimates, published on 3 February.
January marked the fourth consecutive month of rising annual inflation. The previous trend of slowing price growth, which had persisted for months, was interrupted in October when inflation rose by 2.2%. The upward trend continued in November (2.8%), December (3.4%), and January (4%).
At the annual level, the highest increase on average in consumer prices was recorded in the following divisions: Restaurants and hotels, of 9.7% (contribution to the growth of +0.50 percentage points), Miscellaneous goods and services, of 7.5% (+0.47 percentage points), Recreation and culture, of 5.8% (+0.30 percentage points), Education, of 5.4% (+0.04 percentage points), Food and non-alcoholic beverages, of 5.1% (+1.36 percentage points), Health, of 4.5% (+0.14 percentage points), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, of 4.2% (+0.71 percentage points), Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, of 3.9% (+0.19 percentage points), and Transport, of 3.0%, (+0.41 percentage points).
The increase in prices at the annual level was alleviated by a decrease in the prices in the divisions of Communication, of -1.9% (contribution to the decrease of -0.10 percentage points) and Clothing and footwear, of -1.7% (-0.11 percentage points).
In January 2025, the prices of goods and services for personal consumption, measured by the harmonised index of consumer prices, increased by 5.0% on average compared to January 2024 (at the annual level) and by 0.2% on average compared to December 2024 (at the monthly level).
