The Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) unveiled on Friday the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for February 2107, which differently from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the prices changes for the domestic and foreign families living in Albania in the retail markets.

This index in Albania resulted to be 3.7, the highest level in Europe according to INSTAT. This change is mainly influenced by the annual increase of prices for the food and alcoholic drinks group with 8.1%, followed by the transport group with 3.3%, miscellaneous goods and services with 3.2%, recreation and culture group with 2.9%, etc. 

The monthly change, measured by the HICP during February 2017 is 1.0%. This change is mainly influenced by the fruits and vegetables prices increase. Albania resulted in the highest price increase in Europe even in February, 3.7%, while the European average increase was 1.9%. 

The highest increase rate was registered in Albania, Estonia, Belgium, Latvia and Lithuania. While lower rates of price increases were registered in Iceland, Ireland, Romania and Switzerland.