Consumer prices index goes up

The consumer prices index in Moldova in January this year was 102.3% compared with December last year and 102.8% compared with January last year. The 2.3% rise in the average consumer prices was determined by the increase in the prices of food products, nonfood products and services, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the National Bureau of Statistics. According to the Bureau, the prices of the food products rose by 3.4%, of nonfood products - by 1.2%, while of the services provided for the population - by 2.5%. The prices of grapes in January 2010 grew by 27.4% from December 2009, of fresh vegetables – by 19.7%, of potatoes – by 15.5%, of sugar – by 6.8%, of fresh fruit – by 7.9%, of dairy products – by 3.0%. At the same time, the prices of eggs fell by 3.1%, of poultry - by 0.7%, of pork – by 0.3%. The fuels in January grew dearer by 4.5% (including bottled liquified petroleum gas – by 7.9%, fuel for motor vehicles – by 6.8%), medications – by 2.8%, golden items and sports gear – by 2.7% each. The average monthly prices of the public utilities rose by 5.3% from December last year – electric power charges grew by 8.9%, natural gas tariffs – by 4.3%, heat charges - by 4.0%. The tourism services and vacations abroad got dearer by 5.3%, the international train fares and apartment rent – by 3.4% each, the services in kindergartens – by 3.3%, etc.