Since the beginning of this year, the average consumer prices grew by 17.57%. Food prices rose by 20.81%, nonfood prices by 12.26%, while the services provided for the population by 20.77%, IPN reports.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the price of oil increased by 21.86%, of fresh fruit by 25.61%, of vegetables by 53%, of meat, meat products and cans by 15.85% each, of sugar by 14%, of milk and dairy products by 11%.

Among nonfood prodfcucts, fuel prices grew by 37%, while the prices of building materials by 16.5%.

The prices of public utilities rose by 40%, while of public eating services by 14.4%.

The average consumer prices in May increased by 29%, including of food products by 32.5%, of nonfood products by 21.4%, while of services provided for the population by 35%.

Economist Veaceslav Ioniță said that with an estimative rise in the average salary of about 12.5% and an inflation rate of 29%, the real incomes of the population decreased by 12.8%. More than now, the real incomes of the population decreased only in 1999.