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# Inflation
The cost of drinking alcohol and getting an education is increasing
Prices rose by 0.4 per cent in the year to May.
THE LATEST CONSUMER Price Index has shown that the cost of alcohol and tobacco has risen in the past year.
The cost of education also increased significantly in the past twelve months. The changes drove prices across the board up by an average 0.4 per cent in May when compared with the corresponding month in 2012.
The Central Statistics Office details a fall in the price of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, as well as a decrease in the cost of clothing, footwear and communications.
Pushing the other way, an increase in the price of vegetables and meat was noted, contributing to a rise in the Food and non-Alcoholic Beverages category.
Consumer prices in May decreased by 0.1 per cent when compared with April 2013. The main factors contributing to the drop were lower interest repayments, a decrease in the cost of home-heating oil, cheaper clothes and lower petrol and diesel costs.
The annual rate of inflation for services was 1.8 per cent in the year to may, while goods decreased by 1.3 per cent.
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