UPDATE 1 - Bulgaria's Dec inflation at 2.7% y/y

The average annual inflation in 2018 was 2.8%, NSI said in a monthly inflation report.

On a monthly comparison basis, consumer prices in December remained unchanged, after edging down 0.1% in November, NSI said.

Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which have the largest weight of 31.34% in the consumer basket, rose 2.6% year-on-year in December.

Prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (18.23% weight) grew 4.6% on the year, while transport prices (8.76% weight) remained unchanged.

Bulgaria’s EU-harmonised consumer price index (HICP) rose 2.3% on the year in December and was unchanged compared to the November level.