National Bureau of Statistics informs that average consumer prices in March 2023 compared to February 2023 increased by 0,8%.

The increase in average consumer prices was determined by the increase in prices at:

• food products by 1,1%, contributing to the increase of average consumer prices by 0,4%;
• services provided to the population by 2,1%, contributing to the increase of average consumer prices by 0,5%.

At the same time, non-food goods decreased by 0,2%, contributing to the mitigation of the increase in average consumer prices by 0,1%;

In March 2023 compared to February 2023, from food products, more pronounced increases in average consumer prices were marked for vegetables – by 11,8% (including: cucumbers - by 36,1%, onion - by 19,9 %, zucchini, bellpeppers – by 18,4%, tomatoes and cabbage – by about 10,0%). At the same time, during the analysis period, price reductions were recorded for chicken eggs - by 12,0% and vegetable oil - by 0,5%.

In non-food goods, in March 2023 compared to February 2023, average prices for fuels and combustibles decreased by 2.1% (including: diesel - by 5.1%, coal - by 3.0%, liquefied gas - by 2.3%, gasoline - by 1.7%). At the same time, average prices for medicines increased - by 1.1%, construction materials - by 0.6%, footwear - by 0.4%.

The average prices for services provided to the population in March this year compared to February 2023 they increased by 2,1%. The increase in prices for services provided to the increase in average prices (tariffs) for central heating ^2,3 (by 43,9%), as well as for drinking water supply and sewage services (by 1,5%).

Average consumer prices in March 2023 compared to March 2022 (in the last 12 months) increased by 22,0%, including food products by 22,2%, non-food goods by 11,9% and services provided to the population by 37,7%.

Table 1. Inflation rate in March 2023³

Source of data in .xlsx format

Table 2. Consumer price indices in March 2023, by divisions of consumer goods and services, according to COICOP

Source of data in .xlsx format

Source of data in .xlsx format

Source of data in .xlsx format

Note:

¹ The information is presented without the data on districts from the left side of the Dniester River and the municipality of Bender.
² For estimating the effective average tariffs for energy resources, the compensations granted by the Government for the payment of energy bills to household consumers during the cold period of the year (November 2022-March 2023).
³ Table 1 includes information on the inflation rate on 3 major groups of goods and services, as well as on some representative groups, aggregated according to the national classification used to calculate the CPI:

• the major group „Food products" includes milling and bakery products, meat, meat preparations and preserves, fish and preserved fish, milk and dairy products, eggs, fats, fresh fruit, other fruit and preserves, vegetables, potatoes, sweets and spices, non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages.
• the major group „Non-food goods" includes cigarettes, fabrics, clothing, knitting, footwear, furniture, means of transport and auto parts, printed publications, fuels and fuels, other goods.
• the major group „Services" includes education and training, communal-housing services, public food, health, car repair services, transport services, other services.

⁴ Starting from January 2023, the CPI calculations are made using the weighting coefficients calculated on the basis of the data for the year 2021.

More details can be obtained in:

• Methodology of the Consumer Price Index in the Republic of Moldova (in Rom.)
• The nomenclature of representative products included in the selective research for calculating the CPI (in Rom.)

Relevant information:

• Statistical data bank / Economic statistics / Prices / Consumer price indices
• Consumer Price Index Calculator
• Reference metadata/Consumer Price Index
• Concepts and definitions / Consumer price index
• Calendar of electronic dissemination of statistical information in 2023