OREANDA-NEWS. On 02 June 2009 was announced, that Belarus’ core inflation was at 0.3% in April 2009, a source in the National Statistics Committee told. Core inflation was at 6% in January-April.

Staple food prices went up 0.2% on the month in April; non-food prices increased 0.3% and service prices went up 0.5%. In January-April, the figures were at 5.1%, 6.5% and 7.7%.

In Belarus, core inflation rate reached 11.7% in January-December 2008.

Core inflation is close to basic monetary indicators and does not depend on variables, especially seasonal factors and administratively-controlled price-formation.

Core inflation is the key benchmark for monetary strategies; many countries of the world have their central banks calculate the core consumer price index [in Belarus it is calculated by the National Statistics Committee].