Inflation in Catalonia stable at 3.4% in October
Food prices are 8.3% higher than a year ago but have eased compared to last month
Inflation in Catalonia, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 3.4% in October, the same rate as in September, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE).
Prices in Catalonia were 3.4% higher in October than in the same month last year, but then the inflation rate was 6.8%, double the current rate.
Food prices were 8.3% more expensive than last October, but rising more slowly compared to September, when the annual increase was 9.6%.
Most products eased their annual price increases: 3.7% for bread (seven tenths less than in September), 7.7% for eggs (2.7 points less), 11.5% for milk (0.7 points less), 6.6% for fresh fruit (0.2 points less) and 21.1% for sugar (24.7 points less).
Transport prices were 2.3% higher than in October last year, but 2.2% lower than in September due to the fall in fuel prices.
Energy prices, which include electricity, gas and other fuels, were down 20.7% year-on-year, while water prices were up 1.4%. Compared to last month, energy prices fell by 2.3% and water prices remained stable.
Prices for leisure and culture increased by 4.7%, as well as restaurants and hotels, which were 5.8% more expensive than last year. Housing, however, fell by 7%.
In Spain, prices also remained stable at 3.5%, breaking the three-month streak of increases.