The inflation figures were computed on the basis of a representative sample of economic data rather than all of the available data.

Last year a dip in oil prices brought inflation temporarily below its recent stable annual level of 4 percent.

Increases in the pay of some workers are tied to the level of inflation, and at an inflation rate of 4 percent or above, these pay raises constitute a force causing further inflation.

The 1.2 percent rate of inflation last year represented a 10-year low.

Government intervention cannot affect the rate of inflation to any significant degree.