Georgia’s annual inflation slowed to 0.9% in August from 1.5% in July, the state statistics office, Geostat, said on Friday.

On a monthly basis prices were up 0.4% in August after o.2% in July.

Prices in the group of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes rose by 11.9% year-on-year in August, caused mostly by increase of excise tax on tobacco and alcohol products.

Annual inflation in the healthcare group stood at 3.3% and in communication services at 3.8% y/y in August. Prices for hotels and restaurants services increased 4.6% y/y and food prices were up 0.6% y/y in August.

Prices in the transport group were down by 7.7% y/y in August, driven mostly by 16.5% y/y fall of prices on vehicles.