Swedish annual consumer price inflation in February remained steady at January's 13-month high, data released by Statistics Sweden showed Tuesday.
Economists expected the rate of inflation to ease to 1.8 percent. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose 0.7 percent compared to 0.5 percent increase forecast.
The upward contribution to monthly price growth came from 0.9 percent rise in food costs, 5.5 percent increase in tobacco prices and 2 percent gain in clothing and footwear.
Further, higher prices of fuel, transport charges, electricity as well as prices of package holidays also contributed to the month-on-month increase in the CPI.
The underlying inflation rate was 1.1 percent in February, above forecast of 1 percent. Month-on-month, the core price index advanced 0.7 percent, faster than the expected 0.6 rise.
The hamonized index of consumer prices (HICP), measured by a method harmonized across the EU member states, was 1 percent higher than in February 2011 and was up 0.7 percent compared with a month earlier.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com