TIRANA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Albania's consumer price inflation hit the level of 2.2 percent year-on-year in December, from 1.9 percent in November, the statistical office, INSTAT, said Monday.
On a monthly comparison basis, inflation was 0.9 percent in December, data showed.
The acceleration of inflation during this month was supported by the increase of consumption on the verge of New Year's holidays, experts said.
The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which have the largest weight of 36.1 percent in the consumer basket, saw an increase of 4.6 percent in December after increasing by 3.2 percent a month earlier.
Housing, water, electricity and fuel prices, which have a weight of 20.3 percent in the consumer basket, grew by 0.9 percent year-on-year after increasing by 1.5 percent in November.
During 2016, the biggest growth of inflation was noted in December at the level of 2.2 percent, whereas the lowest level was marked in February at 0.2 percent.
Meanwhile, Albania's central bank expects the inflation to return to its 3 percent target around the end of 2018.
