Since the beginning of the year, the price development for mineral oil products has had a downward effect on the overall inflation rate. In April 2013, the relevant prices were down 6.3 percent on April 2012 (of which motor fuels: -6.0 percent; heating oil: -7.4 percent). Not considering the price development for motor fuels and heating oil, the inflation rate in April 2013 was +1.7 percent. Energy prices as a whole rose 0.4 percent from April 2012 to April 2013.
The decrease in health care prices (−3.8 percent) caused by the abolition of the medical consultation charge in January 2013 continued to have a downward effect on the overall inflation rate. The decline in the inflation rate in April 2013, however, was mainly due to the price decrease for package holidays (−3.3 percent on April 2012).
Food price increases from April 2012 to April 2013 were noticeable for consumers (+4.1 percent). Prices were up on a year earlier especially for fruit (+7.6 percent) and vegetables (+7.1 percent) as well as meat and meat products (+5.4 percent). Total goods prices were up 1.5 percent in April 2013 on April 2012. Prices of non-durable and semi-durable consumer goods in April 2013 were 1.8 percent higher each than a year earlier.
Total service prices rose by 0.8 percent in April 2013 compared with April 2012 (including net rents exclusive of heating expenses: +1.3 percent). Marked price increases were recorded, for example, for recreational and sporting services (+3.1 percent) and education (+3.4 percent). In contrast, price decreases were observed for financial services (−8.4 percent) and telecommunications services (−1.6 percent).