Consumer prices in Hungary fell by an annual 0.6% in March following a drop of 1% in February, the Central Statistical Office said, NewsNow reported. Household energy and fuel prices were behind the year-on-year decline in March, the former falling by 3.4% and the component that includes the latter by 4.4%. Food prices were flat, while the price of tobacco rose by 2%. Inflation was 0.6% in March compared with February. Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, was 1%. K&H Bank chief analyst David Nemeth said the consumer price index could remain negative until August, when it is expected to pick up. Year-end inflation is likely to be above 2% and average annual inflation at 0.1%, he said.
