Statec, for example, notes an increase in the cost of medical care, due to the adaptation of wage scales: on average, this increased by +7.7% for general practitioners, specialists and dentists.
Price increases were also noted for plane tickets (+8.1%), package trips (+5.9%) and daycare centres (+2.8%). Car maintenance and repair services (+0.8%) also fuelled inflation in March. On the other hand, the prices of petroleum products are falling: -4.6% for fuel oil, -2% for diesel. Only gasoline increased by a little (+1.4%).
In the area of food, unpleasant surprises at the checkout counter were registered for olive oil (+8.0%), baby food (+5.1%), some fresh seafood (+ 4.2%) and chocolate (+3.9%). But there were decreases in the prices of fresh vegetables (-4.3%), fresh fish (-4.4%) and potatoes (-1.5%).
The annual inflation rate now stands at 3.1%, compared to 3.2% a month earlier. Underlying inflation (without very volatile products) is at 3.3%.
According to Eurostat, Luxembourg is experiencing a price increase slightly higher than the European average (3.2% instead of 2.8%).
As already announced in late 2023 by Statec, there is currently no reason to anticipate an index trigger at this time.
