Hungarian consumer prices rose 1.6 per cent from a year earlier in September and 0.2 per cent from August. Food became cheaper annually while services and motor fuels rose. The national reading was below economists’ forecast reported by Portfolio. Separate core and harmonised measures registered higher annual increases than the national headline index.
Hungary’s consumer prices rose 1.6 per cent annually and 0.2 per cent from August, according to the September release of its Central Statistical Office. The annual rate was below the 1.8 per cent forecast in Portfolio’s economist survey. The release gives a national average across household purchases, alongside separate measures for core prices, harmonised comparisons and pensioners.[1], [2]
Food prices fell 1.3 per cent annually, with a 4.6 per cent decline when food-serving services were excluded. Butter fell 15.6 per cent and fresh domestic and tropical fruit declined 14.4 per cent. Services increased 4.9 per cent annually, including a 17.6 per cent rise in theatre tickets. Motor fuel prices rose 6.9 per cent from a year earlier and 5.9 per cent over the month.[1]
Seasonally unadjusted core inflation was 1.9 per cent annually and unchanged monthly. The harmonised consumer price index, calculated for harmonised comparisons, rose 2.1 per cent annually and 0.1 per cent monthly. Pensioners’ price index increased 1.1 per cent annually and 0.1 per cent monthly. Electricity, gas and other fuels fell 4.0 per cent over the year, with gas down 11.0 per cent and electricity up 1.3 per cent.[1]
