The Consumer Price Index for August 2000 decreased by 0,24 units or 0,23% to 105,23 units compared to 105,47 in July 2000. This is mainly due to decreases in the prices of certain fresh fruit and vegetables, in the charges of international telephone calls as well as in the prices of clothing and footwear due to the continuing summer sales. Increases were recorded in the prices of potatoes and electricity.

2. The average rate of increase of the Index for the period January-August 2000 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year was 4,42%.

3. The average rate of increase of the Index for the last twelve months (i.e. September 1999 - August 2000) compared to the preceding twelve months (i.e. September 1998 - August 1999) was 3,7%.

4. The evolution of the Index by category for the last twelve months was:

Categories of Goods and Services

2 0 0 0

Jan.

Feb..

Mar.

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

1.

Food & non-alcoholic beverages

105,92

106,71

106,57

107,35

103,45

106,79

2.

Alcoholic beverages & tobacco

118,17

118,41

118,59

118,64

118,64

121,87

3.

Clothing and footwear

108,57

91,00

108,24

109,03

109,13

109,13

93,39

4.

Housing, water, electricity and gas

106,39

106,80

107,29

107,93

108,10

108,82

5.

Furnishings, household equipment and supplies

99,13

101,09

101,50

101,64

101,25

99,99

6.

Health

105,02

107,00

107,07

107,84

108,38

108,62

109,58

7.

Transport

101,74

102,36

102,70

103,11

103,26

103,39

106,43

8.

Communication

89,54

89,52

89,52

89,32

89,31

89,10

90,42

9.

Recreation & cullture

100,81

100,97

101,62

101,54

101,66

101,13

98,45

10.

Education

108,21

108,21

108,21

108,21

108,21

108,21

108,21

11.

Restaurants & hotels

105,03

105,12

106,14

108,12

108,71

109,93

110,87

12.

Miscellaneous goods and services

103,19

103,48

104,33

104,60

105,94

106,55

General Index

104,46

103,25

105,22

105,65

106,06

105,50

105,47