21.02.201705:23:00UTC+00Cyprus HICP Climbs For Second Month

Cyprus' EU measure of inflation rose for the second straight month in January, figures from the Statistical Service showed Tuesday.

The harmonized index of consumer prices, or HICP, climbed 0.7 percent year-over-year in January, faster than the 0.1 percent slight increase in December.

The annual increase in January was mainly driven by a 2.8 percent rise in utility costs. Transport costs grew 1.7 percent and prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages went up by 0.7 percent.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices dropped 0.8 percent at the start of the year. Clothing and footwear prices alone plunged 14.0 percent over the month.