Increase in energy prices pushes harmonized inflation up in September

A significant rise in energy prices caused an increase in the harmonized inflation in the ninth month of the year, compared with September last year, while it was down by 0,8% compared with August.
 
“The Harmonized Price Index for September 2018 increased by 1,7% when compared to September 2017, while compared to August of 2018 decreased by 0,8%. For the period January-September 2018 the HICP increased by 0,5% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year” the Statistical Service reported on Wednesday.
 
Compared with the index of September 2017, the largest change was in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 12,8%.
 
Compared with August 2018, the largest positive change was seen in clothing and footwear (10,9%) while the biggest negative change was in transport (-7,4%).
 
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded the largest positive change of3,3%, between January - September 2018, compared with the same period last year, while the largest negative change was in furnishings, household equipment and house routine maintenance by 3%.
 
In terms of economic origin, the largest positive annual change was in energy with 16,3%. Services recorded the biggest negative change with 3,4%.