Inflation holds at 4.3%, the highest rate of the past 12 years

The consumer price index (CPI) fell 0,6 in January, but the i annual rate stood at 4.3%, one tenth above the close of 2007 and the highest since 1995, according to data released today by the National Statistics Institute (INE). The drop in prices in January was caused by decreases in clothing and footwear as a result of the reductions.
The core inflation - which excludes the index generally fresh food and energy - declined one point in January, and its annual rate is at 3.1%, 0,2% lower than it was in December.

For his part, the consumer price index (HICP) harmonized, which measures inflation in the same way for all countries of the euro zone, the rate stood at the Spanish 4.4%, one tenth of the above December.
In Catalunya, the CPI also slipped 0,6 point in January over the previous month, which placed the interannual rate of 4.4%, one tenth above the rate Spanish.
Because of the sales, the more products that decreased in price in Catalonia in January were those of clothing and footwear, with a drop of 12.3%, followed by entertainment and culture, which were reduced by 1.9%. Prices of alcohol and snuff, up 2.1% grew most all; housing, an increase of 1.7%, and hotels and restaurants (0.6%).