People shop in a supermarket in Mosta, Malta, May 25, 2022. Soaring food prices and house maintenance costs drove Malta's annual inflation to a record high in April, the National Statistics Office said on Tuesday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
VALLETTA, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Soaring food prices and house maintenance costs drove Malta's annual inflation to a record high in April, the National Statistics Office said on Tuesday.
Consumer prices increased by 5.67 percent in April compared with a year ago, as measured by the retail price index (RPI). This was up from 4.43 percent in March.
House maintenance costs increased by a substantial 15.1 percent compared to April last year, as a result of higher costs for materials and services.
The cost of food also increased by 9.2 percent in April, compared to a year ago.
Nevertheless, the lowest annual inflation rates were registered for water, electricity, gas and fuels, due to a government price guarantee that has been put in place until the end of the year. ■
A woman shops in a supermarket in Mosta, Malta, May 25, 2022. Soaring food prices and house maintenance costs drove Malta's annual inflation to a record high in April, the National Statistics Office said on Tuesday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
(220525) -- MSIDA , May 25, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on May 25, 2022 shows a gas station in Msida, Malta. Soaring food prices and house maintenance costs drove Malta's annual inflation to a record high in April, the National Statistics Office said on Tuesday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
(220525) -- MSIDA , May 25, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A man pumps gasoline into his car at a gas station in Msida, Malta, May 25, 2022. Soaring food prices and house maintenance costs drove Malta's annual inflation to a record high in April, the National Statistics Office said on Tuesday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)
A staff member arranges goods on the shelf in a supermarket in Mosta, Malta, May 25, 2022. Soaring food prices and house maintenance costs drove Malta's annual inflation to a record high in April, the National Statistics Office said on Tuesday. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)