May 11 (SeeNews) - Moldova's consumer prices rose by 18.1% year-on-year in April, decelerating from an annual increase of 22% in the previous month, the statistical office said on Thursday.
Prices of services and food prices were the main inflation drivers in April, soaring by an annual 33.2% and 16.4%, respectively, the National Bureau of Statistics, BNS, said in a statement.
Prices of non-food products rose 10.6% on the year in April.
On a monthly comparison basis, Moldova's consumer prices increased by 2.2% in April. The prices of services rose 7.5%, accounting for a 1.8 percentage point increase in average consumer prices. Food prices inched up by 0.7%, while the cost of non-food goods edged up by 0.4%, contributing to the increase in average consumer prices with 0.3 and 0.1 percentage points, respectively.
In April, Moldova's central bank decided to cut its base rate to 14% from 17%, continuing the economy-stimulating monetary policy measures applied since the end of 2022. The decision aimed to spur demand by encouraging consumption and balancing the national economy while anchoring inflationary expectations.
(1 euro=19.5249 lei)