Hungary’s consumer prices increased for the third straight month in December, in line with expectations, figures from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office showed Thursday.

The consumer price index rose 0.9 percent year-over-year in December, faster than previous month’s 0.5 percent spike. The figure was also matched with consensus estimate.

Core consumer prices grew 1.4 percent annually in December and edged up 0.1 percent from the preceding month.

Food prices went up 2.2 percent in December from a year ago and those of consumer durables climbed by 1.7 percent. At the same time, utility costs dropped 0.2 percent.

Month-on-month, consumer prices slid 0.3 percent in December after showing no variations in November. It was the first fall in three months.

The EU measure of inflation, or HICP, increased 1.0 percent yearly in December, while it decreased 0.3 percent from November.

In 2015 as a whole, consumer prices were cut by 0.1 percent on average compared to the previous year, the agency said.

The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com