Inflation slowed down to 0.6 percent in 2018

Consumer prices in Greece increased at a rate of 0.6 percent in 2018, almost half as fast as in 2017, according to data published on Friday by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

December also witnessed a 0.6 percent increase of the consumer price index compared to the last month of 2017, while on a monthly basis prices advanced 0.1 percent from November 2018.

Leading the price hikes in 2018 were, according to ELSTAT, the communications sector - with a 5.3 percent price increase due to a rise in telephony service rates - and the alcoholic beverages and tobacco sector, with a 1.2 percent advance, mainly because of a cigarette price rise.

ELSTAT also announced that the European Union-harmonized inflation rate amounted to 0.8 percent year-on-year throughout 2018. This has matched the expectations of the 2018 state budget, which had forecast a decline in...