A customer shops at a supermarket in Stockholm, Sweden, April 14, 2022. Sweden is experiencing the highest inflation in decades, with a 12-month inflation rate of 6.1 percent in March, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday. (Xinhua/He Miao)
STOCKHOLM, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Sweden is experiencing the highest inflation in decades, with a 12-month inflation rate of 6.1 percent in March, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday.
"The inflation rate rose sharply because of a general and broad price increase. Prices on food and non-alcoholic beverages rose, but mainly it was rising electricity and fuel prices that had a major impact," Caroline Neander, a statistician of the agency, said in a press release.
The CPIF (Consumer Price Index with a fixed interest rate) 12-month inflation rate rose by 1.7 percent from February to March, according to the Swedish government agency.
The rate was mainly affected by higher energy prices, which contributed 2.2 percentage points, adding that additional contributing factors were higher prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
The agency also reported March price increases for various goods and services, including dairy products, restaurant visits, housing costs and cars.
Thursday's inflation figures exceeded the fears of most market analysts, who now expect the Swedish Central Bank to increase its benchmark interest rate soon, and thus end the country's era of zero interest rates. ■
A customer shops at a supermarket in Stockholm, Sweden, April 14, 2022. Sweden is experiencing the highest inflation in decades, with a 12-month inflation rate of 6.1 percent in March, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday. (Xinhua/He Miao)
A customer shops at a supermarket in Stockholm, Sweden, April 14, 2022. Sweden is experiencing the highest inflation in decades, with a 12-month inflation rate of 6.1 percent in March, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday. (Xinhua/He Miao)
People buy food at a supermarket in Stockholm, Sweden, April 14, 2022. Sweden is experiencing the highest inflation in decades, with a 12-month inflation rate of 6.1 percent in March, Statistics Sweden said on Thursday. (Xinhua/He Miao)
