Price index edges down

The index of consumer prices and annual inflation went down marginally in September, figures issued today show.

The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went down to 111.88 from 112.09 in August 2009. The drop, of 0.2 percent over the previous month, primarily reflected a decrease of 2.6 percent in the Restaurants and Hotels Index, mainly due to lower prices of accommodation services. The Transport Index went down by 1.8 percent mainly due to lower air fares.

Price decreases for certain alcoholic beverages caused the Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Index to go down by 0.1 percent but the Clothing and Footwear Index went up by 7.7 percent, mainly on account of seasonal price increases in garments. Higher prices for fish and fruit caused the Food and Non-alcoholic beverages Index to increase by one percent. The Health Index went up by 0.3 percent, mainly on account of higher prices of pharmaceutical products.

Price rises for package holidays cause a shift upwards of 0.3 percent in the Recreation and Culture Index. The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index registered an increase of 0.2 percent, mainly on account of higher prices for gas and liquid fuels. An upward movement in the price of certain major household appliances caused the Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index to go up by 0.2 percent.

The Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index registered a 0.1 percent rise, due to price increases in certain jewellery items.

In September, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 3.2 percent from 3.6 percent in August, while annual inflation was 0.8 percent, from one percent the previous month.