CONSUMER PRICE INDICES, MARCH 2024 – Flash Estimate

The prices of goods and services for personal consumption, measured by the consumer price index, according to a flash estimate, increased by 4.1% on average in March 2024 compared to March 2023 (at the annual level). Compared to February 2024 (at the monthly level), according to a flash estimate, they increased by 0.9% on average.

According to the main components of index (special aggregates), an estimated annual rate of change for Services is 6.6%, for Food, beverages and tobacco 4.7%, for Non-food industrial goods without energy 2.5% and for Energy 1.4%.

At the monthly level, an increase of the rate of change has been estimated for components Non-food industrial goods without energy, of 2.4%, for Services, of 0.4%, for Food, beverages and tobacco, of 0.3%, and for Energy, of 0.2%.

The final data on consumer price indices in March 2024, according to the ECOICOP classification, will be released on 16 April 2024.

The flash estimate data of the euro area harmonised index of consumer prices for March 2024 are available at the Eurostat website.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

After the Republic of Croatia joined the euro area on 1 January 2023 and in line with the Regulation (EU) 2016/79, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics started the compilation and regular monthly transmission of data on flash estimates of the harmonised index of consumer prices to Eurostat, which releases flash estimates related to the euro area. In order to satisfy the consumer needs, the flash estimate of the national consumer price index is calculated and released on the monthly basis, and the data are issued by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics in the form of the monthly First Release.

The flash estimate of the consumer price index is based on the data on retail prices obtained from data sources by the end of the reference month to which the prices refer, which accounts for about 80% − 90% of received and processed data. The remaining received data are processed and included into the calculation of the index for the purpose of the final data release.

The flash estimate of the national price index is released on the same day as the flash estimate of the euro area harmonised index of consumer prices issued by Eurostat. Release dates are available in the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues.

The annual consumer price index measures the changes in prices in the current month compared to the same month of the previous year, while the monthly index measures the changes in prices in the current month compared to the previous month.

Definitions

Consumer price index (CPI) is used as a general measure of inflation in the Republic of Croatia and reflects the changes in prices of goods and services acquired, used or paid over time by a reference population (private households) for consumption purposes.

Harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) is a set of European consumer price indices calculated according to a harmonised approach and a special set of definitions, which enables a comparable measure of inflation in the euro area, the European Union, the European Economic Area and in candidate countries.

Both indicators are calculated on the basis of the same representative basket of goods and services. The main difference is the coverage of the population: HICP includes the total consumption of institutional households and non-residents in the economic territory and this consumption is not included in the national consumer price index.

Abbreviations

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
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Persons responsible:
Suzana Šamec, Director of Macroeconomic Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Sanja Jurleka, Marita Novoselec, Marija Gudelj, Jasminka Stančić, Gordana Šiletić, Ivana Ključarić and Tamara Golub

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