BELGRADE (Serbia), May 15 (SeeNews) – Austria's Erste banking group said it expects inflation pressures in Serbia to gradually ease in the coming months as low base effects dissipate.
The consumer price index (CPI) should hit bottom in the summer months and then again start to pick up gradually, underpinned by steady wage growth and stronger investment activity later in 2019, Erste analysts said in a comment on Serbia's recent inflation data released earlier this week.
"Uncertainties are still mostly related to the external environment and the associated developments in the commodity markets, notably oil prices," Erste said.
Serbia's average annual consumer price inflation accelerated to 3.1% in April, from 2.8% in March, official statistics show.
On a monthly comparison basis, Serbia's consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.7% in April, after rising by 0.4% in March, according to figures published on the website of the national statistical office.
Serbia's average annual consumer price inflation slowed to 2.0% last year from 3.0% in 2017.