The figure was 1.2 per cent in December.

Consumer prices were 0.5 per cent lower in January than the December figure.

The price development of energy has long had a major impact on the course of inflation. In January, the impact of energy price developments on inflation decreased.

The inflation rate excluding energy was 3.5 per cent, the flash estimate revealed. In December, it occupied a share of 3.4 per cent, a CBS release said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)