PRESS RELEASE Brussels, 23 December 2014 Consumer price index of December 2014 o o o o o Inflation in December has gone down from -0.11% to -0.38%. The average inflation rate in 2014 amounts to 0.34%. This is the lowest annual average inflation rate since 2009 when it amounted to -0,05%. The consumer price index this month has decreased by 0.11 points or 0.11%. Inflation of the health index remains unchanged and amounts to -0.01% this month. The index in December has gone down mainly due to price decreases for motor fuels and domestic heating oil. However, airplane tickets and vegetables have had an increasing effect on the index. The consumer price index amounts to 99.98 points in December 2014. The index has decreased by 0.11 points this month. Inflation has gone down from -0.11% to -0.38%. The health index has risen by 0.12 points this month and now amounts to 100.40 points. Inflation based on the health index remains unchanged and, just like last month, amounts to -0.01% this month. The index decrease this month can mainly be attributed to price decreases for motor fuels and domestic heating oil. These decreases are partially counterbalanced by increases for airplane tickets and vegetables. The consumer price index has gone down by 0.11 points or 0.11% in December 2014 and now amounts to 99.98 points, compared to 100.09 points in November (2013=100). Statistics Belgium North Gate – Koning Albert II-laan 16 1000 Brussels T + 32 (0)2/277.63.47 [email protected] http://statbel.fgov.be 2/5 The health index has gone up by 0.12 points to 100.40 points in December, compared to 100.28 points in November. The arithmetic mean of the last four months is 100.26 points in December, compared to 100.19 points in November. The central index for public services and social benefits, set at 101.02 points, has not been exceeded this month. The last time the central index was exceeded was in November 2012. Products with the largest decreasing effect compared to last month are motor fuels and domestic heating oil. Products with the largest increasing effect in December are airplane tickets and vegetables. The most important trends this month are: upward: airplane tickets vegetables (incl. potatoes) influence: +0.045 points +0.035 points downward: motor fuels domestic heating oil influence: -0.210 points -0.050 points Motor fuels have become 5.4% less expensive compared to last month. Prices for domestic heating oil have decreased on average by 2.7% this month. Airplane tickets have become 11.7% more expensive compared to last month, due to Christmas holidays. Vegetables (including potatoes) have become on average 2.5% more expensive this month. Especially cauliflowers, sweet peppers and tomatoes have become more expensive. However, onions, leek and Brussels sprouts have become less expensive. Inflation now amounts to -0.38% compared to -0.11% last month and 0.09% in October. Inflation based on the health index remains unchanged and amounts, just like last month, to -0.01% compared to 0.10% in October. Inflation for energy products remains negative and has continued its downward trend to -9.19%, compared to -6.43% last month and -5.61% in October. Inflation without energy has gone up to 0.81% in December compared to 0.74% last month and 0.85% in October. Inflation for food remains negative but has gone up to -0.76%, compared to -0.88% last month and -1.19% in October. Core inflation, which excludes the price evolution of energy and unprocessed food, amounts to 1.06% in December, compared to 1.01% in November and 1.24% in October. The negative inflation rate of -0.38% can mainly be attributed to negative inflation for energy (-9.19%) and food (0.76%). However, the services sector and housing rent have registered inflation rates of 1.55% and 2.03% respectively. The negative inflation rate for food is due to negative inflation for fruit (-5.01%) and vegetables (-6.09%). Within the vegetables group, potatoes have become 20.22% less expensive than last year in December. Although prices for electricity and natural gas have gone up in the last few months, they remain well below their prices of one year ago. Natural gas is 4.8% less expensive than last year, electricity is 10.75% less expensive. Domestic heating oil is (smoothed) 8.64% less expensive. Motor fuels are 11.23% less expensive than last year in December. The annual average inflation rate amounts to 0.34% in 2014. This is the lowest annual average inflation rate since 2009 when it amounted to -0,05%. Statistics Belgium North Gate – Koning Albert II-laan 16 1000 Brussels T + 32 (0)2/277.63.47 [email protected] http://statbel.fgov.be 3/5 The following products and services have registered the strongest price decreases compared to last year in December: downward: inflation: LPG (for use in cars) Potatoes Liquefied petroleum gas (for other uses) Diesel Fresh shellfish Breakfast cereals Electricity Mobile telephone services Petrol Domestic heating oil Computers and tablets Olive oil -31.53% -20.22% -19.66% -11.96% -11.56% -11.25% -10.75% -9.79% -9.66% -8.64% -8.02% -7.27% The following products and services have registered the strongest price increases compared to last year in December: upward: inflation: Refuse collection Frozen shellfish Costs for sewerage and waste water treatment Pregnancy tests and contraceptives Frozen fish Other tobacco products Maintenance services and domestic helpers Fixed telephone services Cigarettes Photographic services Retirement homes and specialised institutes for disabled people Crisps 27.48% 11.97% 9.68% 7.61% 6.51% 6.21% 5.42% 5.28% 5.24% 5.16% 4.93% 4.60% Statistics Belgium North Gate – Koning Albert II-laan 16 1000 Brussels T + 32 (0)2/277.63.47 [email protected] http://statbel.fgov.be 4/5 2013 = 100 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 Consumer price index 100.09 100.22 100.09 99.98 Inflation -0.12% 0.09% -0.11% -0.38% Health index 100.06 100.28 100.28 100.40 Smoothed index 100.25 100.23 100.19 100.26 Statistics Belgium North Gate – Koning Albert II-laan 16 1000 Brussels T + 32 (0)2/277.63.47 [email protected] http://statbel.fgov.be 5/5 Additional information For more information, please contact Stephan Moens: ☎ +32 (0)2/277.63.47 [email protected] Source Statistics Belgium Additional figures Tables with detailed data can be found on: http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/statistieken/cijfers/economie/consumptieprijzen/ Statistics Belgium North Gate – Koning Albert II-laan 16 1000 Brussels T + 32 (0)2/277.63.47 [email protected] http://statbel.fgov.be
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