Hungary's consumer price inflation increased in May after weakening for seven successive months, latest data showed Tuesday.
Inflation as per the consumer price index increased to 1.8 percent in May from 1.7 percent in April, the Central Statistical Office said. The slowdown followed seven months of consecutive acceleration. Economists had forecast an inflation rate of 1.9 percent for May.
Food prices grew 3.7 percent from a year earlier, while clothing and footwear prices edged down 0.2 percent. Costs of electricity, gas and other fuels were lower by 8.5 percent than in May 2012, and those of consumer durable goods down by 1.8 percent.
Hungary's inflation has remained relatively low in recent months, with most of the main categories recording muted or negative growth in prices, the agency said.
The consumer price index edged down 0.1 percent compared to April, when it advanced 0.3 percent. Economists had forecast the index to stay flat month-on-month.
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