OREANDA-NEWS. On 20 January 2009 was announced, that Belarus’ consumer price inflation went up 1.2% on the month in December 2008, compared to 1.4% in November, 1% in October, 1% in September, 0.17% in August, 0.8% in July, 0.6% in June, 1.3% in May, 1.2% in April, 0.8% in March, 0.7% in February and 2.5% in January, an official in the Statistics Ministry told.

January-December 2008 showed a 13.3% inflation rate, which compares to 12.1% in January-December 2007.

The average monthly inflation rate amounted to 1.1% in 2008, up from 1% in 2007.

Over the past 12 months consumer prices have risen 13.3%.

Food prices went up 2.3% in December and 15.9% in January-December, non-food prices went down 0.5%, but increased 6.8%, respectively, and consumer services prices increased 0.8% in December alone, and 16.2% in 2008.

In 2007, inflation accelerated 12.1%, above the original annual target of 6%-8%, and worst since 2004, which recorded a 14.4% inflation pace.

The government had hoped it would be able to keep inflation pace within 6% and 8% last year.