The Consumer Price Index for January 2000 increased by 0,23 units or 0,22% to 104,46 units compared to 104,23 in December 1999. This is mainly due to marginal increases in the prices of fresh lamb, medical care, car maintenance and rents, while a marginal decrease was recorded in the prices of certain fresh vegetables.

It should be noted that as from January the base year of the Index is 1998=100 (with comparable data since January 1999) with revised weights and classification of goods and services into categories as presented by member countries of the E.U.

The evolution of the Index by category and month for the period Jan. 1999-Jan. 2000 was:

Categories of Goods and Services

2 0 0 0

January

1.

Food & non-alcoholic beverages

2.

Alcoholic beverages & tobacco

3.

Clothing and footwear

108,57

4.

Housing, water, electricity and gas

5.

Furnishings, household equipment and supplies

6.

Health

105,02

7.

Transport

101,74

8.

Communication

89,54

9.

Recreation & cullture

100,81

10.

Education

108,21

11.

Restaurants & hotels

105,03

12.

Miscellaneous goods and services

General Index

104,46