The February core consumer price index rose 0.5 percent to 97.6 from a year ago, compared with the 100-point benchmark for 2000, the government announced Friday, marking the index's fourth consecutive year-on-year increase.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry attributed the rise in the CPI to soaring kerosene prices and higher natural gas and gasoline prices, which rose due to a higher crude oil prices and a cold snap.
The ministry said the trend will continue and the rise in the price of petroleum products will push up the index.