Consumer prices in March 2006 decreased by 0.5% against last month, so that they only raised 2.8% over December 2005 and nearly one point percent lower than the rate 3.7% of March 2005 over December 2004.
As compared with same period last year, consumer prices of each month in 1st quarter had a positive tendency of gradual decrease over months: January prices increased by 8.8%; February by 8.4% and March by 7.7%. However, average prices for 12 months as at March 2005 still rose considerably; the rate of 8.1% was a worrisome for the aim of keeping the inflation rate from being lower than the growth rate.
Gold prices in March 2006 only raised 1.8% over last month, rose by 11.6% against last December and by 26.7% over March 2005. USD prices in 1st quarter 2006 were relatively stable, only increasing by 0.8% over March 2005.