Consumer prices in Croatia were 4.1 percent higher in February compared to the same month last year, announced the State Bureau of Statistics (DZS) on Friday, which is the same as in January, thus interrupting the multi-month trend of slowing inflation on an annual basis.

The DZS released the second estimate of the Consumer Price Index, according to which the inflation rate in February was 4.1 percent compared to February 2023, while compared to the previous month, January 2024, inflation rose by 0.2 percent.

Thus, the DZS confirmed the initial estimates of the Consumer Price Index, published at the beginning of March.

This interrupts the multi-month trend of slowing inflation on an annual basis, considering that inflation on an annual basis in January 2024 was also 4.1 percent.

The largest increase in consumer prices on average was recorded in the category of restaurants and hotels, by 10.4 percent. This was followed by various goods and services at 5.9 percent, food and non-alcoholic beverages categories, and health increased by 5.7 percent each, education by 5.4 percent, recreation and culture by 4.9 percent, transportation by 4.3 percent, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco by four percent.

Furthermore, prices in the categories of communication and household furnishings, equipment, and routine household maintenance jumped by 2.7 percent each, and clothing and footwear by 2.5 percent.

According to the main components of the index (special aggregates), in the food, beverage, and tobacco component, the increase in prices on an annual basis was 5.4 percent. Service prices rose by 6.4 percent, non-food industrial products excluding energy by 2.5 percent, and energy by 0.3 percent, according to the DZS.