Slovenia's consumer price inflation weakened to the lowest level in twenty-one months in May, data released by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia showed Friday.
Inflation as per the consumer price index dropped to 1.2 percent in May from 1.5 percent in April. The latest figure was the lowest since August 2011, when consumer prices recorded a 0.9 percent growth.
The deceleration reflected a 3.1 percent decrease in costs of clothing and footwear, and a 0.9 percent drop in transportation costs.
Meanwhile, prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 3.1 percent from May 2012, and housing costs and utility prices advanced 2.8 percent.
The consumer price index moved up 0.3 percent compared to April, when it advanced 0.7 percent, the agency said.
At the same time, the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP), measured under the EU methodology, rose 1.6 percent year-on-year in May. Month-on-month, the HICP increased by 0.3 percent.
Separately, the agency said that the number of unemployed persons in Slovenia increased 14.2 percent sequentially in the first quarter, and reached the highest level in twenty years. The unemployment rate was 11.1 percent. The jobless rate among youth, aged between 15 and 24, was 23.3 percent during the three-month period.
Further, the agency said that retail sales in Slovenia decreased 0.9 percent sequentially in April. Year-on-year, trade in the retail sector declined by 4.9 percent.
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