The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went down by 0.7 per cent in September, when compared to August.

This primarily reflected a 6.8 per cent drop in the restaurants and hotels index, mainly due to seasonally lower-priced accommodation services.

Lower prices of materials for the maintenance and repair of dwellings caused the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index to decline by 0.3 per cent.

The communication index edged down by 0.1 per cent on account of a drop in the price of mobile phones.

Seasonally higher prices for garments were the main reason behind an increase of 5.7 per cent in the clothing and footwear index.

Upturns in the prices of vegetables caused the food and non-alcoholic beverages index to increase by 1.9 per cent.

Higher jewellery prices underlay an increase of 1.2 per cent in the miscellaneous goods and services index.

The furniture, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house index went up by 0.3 per cent, mostly due to an increase in the price of household appliances.

Higher book prices caused the recreation and culture index to rise by 0.2 per cent. A similar increase was registered in the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index, mainly due to higher prices of wine.

The health index also went up by 0.2 per cent due to higher fees for medical and paramedical services.

Costlier fuels caused the transport index to edge up by 0.1 per cent.

In September, both the 12-month moving average rate of inflation and the annual rate stood at 2.9 per cent.