Inflation Jumped to 3.3 Percent, Food Prices Rose for the Third Month Running, and the Ministry Calls It "Relative Price Stability"

Annual inflation in October reached 3.3 percent, according to State Statistical Office data published today. In September it was 2.7 percent, a jump of 0.6 percentage points in a single month. From September to October alone, the cost of living rose by 0.4 percent, while retail prices rose 0.2 percent month on month and 3.2 percent year on year.

The shopping basket hurts most. Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.7 percent in one month, more than overall monthly inflation. It is the third month of increases in a row: after 0.5 percent in August and in September, now 0.7. Year on year, food is 2.1 percent more expensive. Month on month, alcoholic drinks and tobacco rose the most, by 2.5 percent, and clothing and footwear and recreation and culture by 1.2 percent each.

Looking at the whole year, the record-holder is transport: 9.5 percent more expensive than last year, although it got slightly cheaper in October, by 0.3 percent. Next come recreation, sport and culture with 8.5 percent, alcohol and tobacco with 7.8, education with 5.6, restaurants and accommodation with 4.9, and housing, water, electricity and heating fuels with 3.7 percent. Household furnishings got cheaper in October, by 1.3 percent, as did restaurants, by 0.7 percent.

The Ministry of Economy and Labour said the same day that these indicators point to "relative price stability". The ministry says it is monitoring prices, especially of basic foodstuffs, and will consider measures if it finds "unjustified price increases". How many months in a row does food have to get more expensive before the price rises stop being "relative stability"?