Statistics for 2006 show that the annual increase in consumer prices was 3.2 percent.
This is a mild decrease in relation to 2005, when the annual inflation rate was 3.3 percent.
The highest increase in prices last December in relation to November was reported in recreation and culture (0.5%), and housing, water, electricity, gas and other energy sources (0.3%). The prices of food and nonalcoholic beverages, transportation and catering services rose by 0.2 percent.
At the same time, holiday sales reduced the prices of clothing and footwear by 1.7 percent in relation to November.
The annual growth of consumer prices was mostly due to the growth in the prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other energy sources, which went up 5.4 percent from December 2005, with the prices of water and utilities going up by as much as 16.6%.
The prices of clothing and footwear last December registered an annual growth of 3.2 percent, the prices of medical services rose by 1.9 percent, and the prices of transportation by 1.1 percent.
The prices of food and nonalcoholic drinks, which make up the largest part of the consumer price index (30%), were 0.8 percent higher in relation to December 2005.
The prices of food and nonalcoholic drinks registered an above-average annual growth of 2.5 percent, as did the prices of transportation (2.6%). The prices of housing last year grew 7.8 percent in relation to 2005.