Average annual inflation rate of consumer prices at +1.5% in 2019 (HICP: 1.5%)

Press release: 12.168-008/20

Vienna,2020-01-17 - The average annual inflation rate of consumer prices (CPI 2015) amounted to +1.5% in 2019, according to Statistics Austria. This was noticeably below the level of 2018 (+2.0%) and 2017 (+2.1%) and markedly above the level of 2016 and 2015 (+0.9% each). Prices for housing, water and energy (+2.8% compared to 2018) were the most important price driver, followed by prices for restaurants and hotels (+2.9%). Cheaper fuels were mainly responsible for the decrease of the 2019 inflation rate, while 2018 had seen a sharp rise in fuel prices. During the course of 2019, inflation ranged between +1.1% and +1.8%. From +1.8% in January the inflation dropped to +1.5% in February and reached again +1.8% in March. It declined to +1.4% by July, reached +1.5% in August, subsequently dropped to +1.1% in October and November and ultimately increased to +1.7% in December.

The average annual harmonised inflation rate of consumer prices (HICP 2015) in 2019 amounted to +1.5%, which is lower than in 2018 (+2.1%).

For more detailed information please refer to the German version.