KIEV, March 11 – The actual slow of consumer inflation in February in annual terms is quicker than the inflation-slowing trajectory to 12% as of late 2016 projected by the National Bank of Ukraine, the regulator has reported on its website.

The decline in consumer prices was linked to supply factors that influenced the price pace more than the NBU expected.

The NBU said, referring to the State Statistics Service, that consumer inflation in annual terms slowed to 32.7% compared to 40.3% in the previous month, and deflation of 0.4% was seen in monthly terms.

The NBU said that the slow of the underlying inflation was also quicker (to 25.1% in annual terms).

The regulator said that the moderate underlying inflation in February (0.4% on the previous month) is linked to the fall in the prices of clothes and shoes (by 2% on the previous month).

The central bank said that volatility of the hryvnia exchange rate caused a moderate rise in prices of imported goods that are used to calculate underlying inflation. The prices of personal-care products, video and audio recorders fell.

The NBU said that the slow of the increase in tariffs was quicker than it was planned – to 47.3% in annual terms (by 2% on the previous month). The prices of tobacco fell by 3% on the previous month, while prices of alcohol, bread and utilities services tariffs grew. (om/ez)