[ Italiano ]
Press release

Consumer prices

  • Ascolta questa pagina usando ReadSpeaker
  • Condividi
  • Lascia un feedback

In August 2018, the Italian consumer price index for the whole nation (NIC) increased by 0.4% on monthly basis and by 1.6% compared with August 2017, up from +1.5% in July. The flash estimate was +1.7%.

The slight acceleration of the growth on annual basis of All items index was mainly due to prices of Services related to transport (from +1.7% of the previous month to +2.8%). The prices of Energy products slowed their growth (from +7.9% of July to +7.7%), as well as those of Unprocessed food (from +3.6% to +3.1%).

Inflation excluding energy and unprocessed food (core inflation) was +0.8% and inflation excluding energy was +1.1% (both in acceleration respectively from +0.7% and +0.9%).

The increase on monthly basis of All items index was mainly due to the rises of prices of Services related to transport (+4.6%) mainly due to seasonal factors.

The rate of change of prices of Grocery and unprocessed food was null compared with the previous month and +2.1% on annual basis (down from +2.2% in the previous month).

In August, according to preliminary estimates, the Italian harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) decreased by 0.2% compared with the previous month and increased by 1.6% with respect to August 2017 (from +1.9% in July). The flash estimate was +1.7%.The decrease on monthly basis was mainly due to the summer sales of Clothing and footwear (-8.8% compared with July 2018).

The slowdown of HICP on annual basis is explained by the trend reversal of Clothing and footwear prices (from + 3.5% in July to -0.6%), for a greater impact of the summer sales registered for the whole August, compared to the previous month when they began not before the 7th of July.

In August, core inflation (excluding energy and unprocessed food), measured by Italian HICP, was +0.8% (down from +1.1% in the previous month). Inflation excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco (+0.6%) and excluding energy (+1.0%) decelerated (respectively from +0.9% and from +1.3% in July 2018).

In August, the Italian harmonised index of consumer prices at constant tax (HICP-CT) decreased by 0.2% on monthly basis and increased by 1.6% with respect to August 2017. Therefore, the difference between HICP and HICP-CT growth rates, which incorporates the effects of changes in indirect taxes occurred in the last twelve months, was null.

Reference period: August 2018

Date of Issue: 14 September 2018

Next release: 28 September 2018

Downloads

Contacts

Media relations office
ph. +39 06 4673.2243-4
Media contact center
ufficiostampa@istat.it

Contact centre
ph. +39 06 4673.3102
contact centre