0

Among the highest price increases in January 2004 were: a 4.2% price increase in education, 2.8 % in alcoholic beverages and tobacco and 2% in food and non - alcoholic beverages. Compared to December 2003, January retail prices increased by an average of 0.3%. Prices of goods grew by 0.2% and prices of services by 0.6%.A number of methodological changes were made at the beginning of this year to the 'basket' of goods used to calculate inflation (e.g. to include fees for higher education studies, a change in the respective weighting given to certain goods and services in the 'basket' and a change in the observation time for prices).