The annual inflation rate in Albania in February 2010 reached a record 4.4 percent, exceeding the Bank of Albania limit by 0.4 percent.

The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) said on Monday the Consumer Price Index (CPI) registered a 1.1 percent increase last February compared to the previous month mainly because of higher food and non-alcoholic drink prices and more expensive electrical energy since January.

The index group of “food and non-alcoholic beverages" marked the highest increase of 2.4 percent with an impact of 0.9 percent in the total monthly difference.

The biggest increase in this group was observed in the “vegetables including potatoes" group which grew by 13.2 percent. Leek prices increased by 40.8 percent and that of tomatoes by 30.0 percent, said INSTAT.

Meanwhile, fruit prices rose by 1.3 percent with lemon prices increasing by 15.7 percent.