The inflation rate doubled in December to the fastest in more than nine years, as firms passed rising oil and commodity costs on to consumers.
Core consumer prices, which exclude fresh food, climbed 0.8 percent from a year earlier, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday.
Higher energy and materials expenses hurt growth by eroding corporate profits and spending by consumers whose wages are falling.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.