NO CHANGES IN MONETARY POLICY - CENTRAL BANK

( Editorial: --> 7218 ) ZAGREB, March 5 (Hina) - The introduction of the VAT has caused a non-recurring increase in prices, which will be followed by a stabilisation, the Council of the Croatian National Bank said on Wednesday. This is confirmed by February price movements: retail prices increased by 0.4 percent and living costs by 0.7 percent from January, while manufacturer's prices fell by 0.1 percent. So far, the VAT has contributed to the steady rate of collection of revenue, the Council said in a statement issued after the session. There were no central bank interventions on the foreign exchange market in February and the kuna exchange rate remained stable, the statement said. (hina) mm as 051105 MET mar 98