LJUBLJANA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Slovenia's annual inflation fell to 4.2 percent in December, down from 10.3 percent in December 2022, the country's Statistical Office said on Friday. It was the lowest level since October 2021.

       The monthly inflation rate was minus 0.5 percent, versus minus 1 percent in November. The annual average inflation rate was 7.4 percent, compared to 8.8 percent in 2022.

       "Higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages had the highest impact on the annual inflation. In the whole year, prices of services rose by 6 percent and prices of goods by 3.3 percent," the office said.

       Alcoholic beverage and tobacco prices rose the most by 9.4 percent, due partly to higher taxes on those products.

       Food and non-alcoholic beverages were 4.6 percent more expensive than a year earlier.

       Month-on-month, inflation fell mainly due to lower energy prices as gasoline prices fell by 5.3 percent, the office said.