Skopje, 7 June 2023 (MIA) – Consumer prices in May grew by 11.3 percent compared to the same month in 2022, while retail prices rose by 7.5 percent. Compared to April 2023, consumer prices grew by 0.4 percent in May 2023, while retail prices dropped by 0.9 percent, said the State Statistical Office on Wednesday.

According to the data of the State Statistical Office, an increase in consumer prices in May 2023 in comparison with the previous month, was registered in fresh or chilled vegetables other than potatoes and other tubers by 13.3 percent, fresh for chilled fruit by 8.5 percent, food products n.e.c. by 2.0 percent, fish and seafood by 1.6 percent, spirits by 0.8 percent, cheese and curd by 0.5 percent, meat by 0.4 percent, coffee, tea and cocoa, mineral waters, soft drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, wine by 0.3 percent, sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery, beer by 0.2 percent.

In May, there was also an increase in the indices of other services n.e.c by 10.6 percent, jewelry, clocks and watches by 4.9 percent, medical services by 3.4 percent, paramedical services by 2.9 percent, footwear by 2.8 percent, accommodation services by 1.8 percent, pharmaceutical products, package holidays by 1.6 percent, non-durable household goods by 1.4 percent, pets and related products by 0.9 percent, motor cars by 0.8 percent, small electric household appliances, photographic and cinematographic equipment and optical instruments, restaurants, cafés and the like by 0.7 percent, garments, furniture and furnishings, therapeutic appliances and equipment, repair of audiovisual, photographic and information processing equipment by 0.6 percent, hairdressing salons and personal grooming establishments by 0.5 percent, glassware, tableware and household utensils, stationery and drawing materials by 0.3 percent, materials for the maintenance and repair of the dwelling, major household appliances, small tools and miscellaneous accessories by 0.2 percent.

A decrease in consumer prices in May 2023, in comparison with the previous month, was registered in oils and fats by 2.4 percent, milk by 1.6 percent and bread and cereals by 0.7 percent.

In May 2023, there was also a decrease of the indices of passenger transport by air by 27.2 percent, liquid fuels for household by 7.3 percent, fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment by 5.5 percent, gas for household by 4.3 percent, solid fuels for household by 3.0 percent, recording media by 1.8 percent, equipment for sport, camping and open–air recreation by 1.5 percent, dental services by 1.3 percent, information processing equipment by 1.2 percent, games, toys and hobbies by 1.1 percent, miscellaneous printed matter, education not definable by level by 1.0 percent, gardens, plants and flowers by 0.6 percent, books, other appliances, articles and products for personal care by 0.5 percent, repair of furniture, furnishings and floor coverings, equipment for the reception, recording and reproduction of sound and picture by 0.3 percent.

Photo: MIA Archive