The Statistics Office said Friday that retail prices of goods and services in July this year compared to the previous month dropped by 0.5 percent.

Consumer prices in July 2011 in comparison with July last year increased by 12.1 percent while compared to December 2010 they increased by 6.2 percent.

Observed by main groups according to destination of consumption in July 2011 in relation to the previous month, the greatest decrease of prices was noted in the group of food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.7 percent) and health (-1.1 percent).

An increase of prices was noted in the following groups: transport (0.8 percent), education (0.8 percent), restaurants and hotels (0.4 percent), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (0.2 percent) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (0.2 percent).

The prices of other products and services did not change significantly.

Consumer prices index is defined as a measure of average change of retail prices of goods and services used for personal consumption.