OSLO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Norway's consumer price index (CPI), a crucial measure of inflation, surged by 5.5 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. This increase was primarily fueled by significant hikes in food prices, Statistics Norway (SSB) said on Wednesday.

       Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 10 percent. Throughout 2023, all food categories experienced a price jump, with fruits and vegetables leading the way, rising by 13.6 and 13.3 percent respectively. Even traditionally less volatile categories like milk, cheese, and eggs saw a notable increase of 7.6 percent. The escalation in food prices marked the most significant annual growth for this sector since 1982.

       Another significant factor contributing to inflation was the steady rise in rent prices, which went up by 3.8 percent from 2022.

       The Norwegian krone's weakening against other currencies also played a role in the inflationary trend, leading to higher costs for imported goods and contributing to rising consumer prices.

       Norway also witnessed robust wage growth, with the average monthly salary increasing by 6.4 percent from the third quarter of 2022 to the same period in 2023. This could potentially lead to further price increases if businesses transfer increased labor costs to their customers, said SSB.

       Meanwhile, last year saw a 7 percent decrease in prices for energy goods compared to 2022. This decline began in the latter half of 2022, primarily due to lower fuel prices. Electricity prices, including network rent, were on average 22.9 percent lower in the last six months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year, helping to curb the CPI growth.