The statistical agency confirms that the indicator rose one tenth in February compared to the year-on-year, pushed up by the rise in electricity and food. Compared to January, prices in general rose 0.9% in one month.
The INE attributes this increase in February to the increase in electricity prices compared to the decrease registered in the same month of 2022 and to the higher increase in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages compared to the same period a year ago. The group of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which for yet another month renews the historical rise of food of 16.6%, has increased more than one point above that of January.
In the opposite direction, the drop in the prices of fuels and lubricants stands out, which increased in February 2022, and combined passenger transport, which in February of last year were more stable.
Core inflation, which does not take into account the more volatile evolution of the non-harmonised food and energy prices, also rose above the general indicator in February to 7.6%, one tenth more than year-on-year and the highest since 1986.
The Harmonized Indicator (IPCA), which is used to make international comparisons, also remains at 6%.
The consumption groups that pushed up the general CPI the most were housing, food and leisure and culture. These three components were, in descending order, the ones that had the most weight in the rise of the CPI. The housing group (expenses associated with housing, not the price of housing itself, whose main item is the electricity bill), the one that has the most weight in the indicator, rose 6.2% due to the rise in electricity compared to the drop in heating diesel, which is becoming cheaper compared to the rise it experienced in February 2022.
The second group, that of the shopping basket, made up of unprocessed food and non-alcoholic beverages, accelerated by 2% per month and now stands at 16.6% per year, mainly due to the increase in the cost of legumes and vegetables and meat, whose prices rise more than last year, and fish and shellfish, which is cheaper than a year ago. Milk, cheese and eggs also rose, but less than in February of a year ago.
The leisure and culture group rose 3.2%, seven tenths more than in January, due to the upward push of tourist packages, greater than that registered in February 2022. Clothing and footwear followed, with a rate of 3.9%, three tenths more than in January.
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