Headline inflation rose to 4.6 percent in February from 4.4 percent in January. Inflation increased for: alcoholic beverages and tobacco (from 8.3 to 10.5 percent); clothing and footwear (from 6.0 to 6.1 percent); and restaurants and hotels (from 8.5 to 8.9 percent). However, this was partially offset by lower inflation for: food and non-alcoholic beverages (from 3.6 to 3.5 percent); and furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance (from 4.7 to 4.5 percent); and health (from 7.2 to 7.0 percent). Inflation was unchanged for: housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels (4.4 percent); transport (1.9 percent); communication (0.4 percent); recreation and culture (4.9 percent); education (7.4 percent); and miscellaneous goods and services (1.9 percent).

The trimmed mean measure of core inflation remained unchanged at 4.1 percent, while inflation excluding administered prices increased from 5.2 to 5.5 percent.