The general increase in prices continued in May, while inflation marked an annual increase of 6.7 percent, reaching the highest level in the last 20 years. 

According to INSTAT, the highest impact on inflation with over 4% of the total was given by food, where it can be seen that most of the basket products grew at double-digit rates. A year ago the annual change in inflation in May was 1.8%. 

The monthly change of the consumer price index in May 2022, compared to April 2022 is -0.5%. 

The annual increase of prices in May was mainly influenced by the group "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" with +4.01 percentage points, followed by the group "Transport" with +1.21 percentage points. Prices of the group "Rent, water, fuel and energy" by +0.53 percentage points. 

Prices of the groups "Alcoholic beverages and tobacco" and "Furniture, home appliances and home maintenance" with +0.24 percentage points each. 

Prices of the group "Hotels, cafes and restaurants" have contributed with +0.23 percentage points. 

Prices of the groups "Clothing and footwear" and "Entertainment and culture" by 0.05% each. 

Prices of the group "Miscellaneous goods and services" by +0.04 percentage points. 

Prices of the group "Communication" with +0.03 percentage points. 

Prices of the group "Educational service" with +0.02 percentage points. Prices of the group "Health" with +0.01 percentage points. 

Compared to May 2021, the largest increase in prices is observed in the group "Transport" with 21.7%, followed by the groups "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" with 11.4%, "Hotels, cafes and restaurants" with 5.3 %, "Alcoholic beverages and tobacco" with 5.0%, "Furniture, home appliances and home maintenance" with 3.2%, "Rent, water, fuel and energy" with 2.7%, "Clothing and footwear" "By 1.3%," Entertainment and culture "by 1.2%," Miscellaneous goods and services "by 0.9%," Communication "by 0.8%," Educational service "by 0.6% and "Health" by 0.2%. 

Within the food group, the prices of the subgroup "oils and fats" increased by 29.1%, followed by the subgroups "bread and cereals" by 18.6%, "milk, cheese and eggs" by 18.4%, "sugar, jam, honey, chocolates and cakes ”with 15.0%,“ vegetables including potatoes ”with 13.0%,“ meat ”with 7.8%,“ fish ”with 7.2%, etc. 

Compared to April 2022, the prices of the group "Entertainment and culture" decreased by 3.1%, followed by the group "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" by 1.6%. While, the groups "Alcoholic beverages and tobacco", "Furniture, home appliances and home maintenance", "Transport", "Hotels, cafes and restaurants" increased by 0.5% each, Rent, water, fuel and energy "By 0.4% and" Clothing and footwear "by 0.1 %.

Source: Monitor