The 12-month moving average rate of inflation last month stood at 3.46 percent, whereas the annual rate stood at 1.18 percent, the National Statistics Office said.

The NSO said the retail price index went up to 118.22 in September from 117.69 in August.

This primarily reflected an increase of 7.65 percent in the clothing and footwear index, mainly on account of seasonal price increases in women's outerwear.

A rise of 0.91 percent was registered in the food index, mainly on account of price increases of fish. The water, electricity, gas and fuels index went up by 0.44 percent, mainly due to a higher price for kerosene.

More expensive household appliances caused the household equipment and house maintenance cost index to go up by 0.23 percent.

A similar rise was registered in the personal care and health index, mainly as a result of costlier medicines. Upward shifts in the price of certain jewellery items caused the other goods and services index to go up by 0.15 percent.

The housing index went up by 0.07 percent, mainly on account of price increases in certain materials used in construction.

The transport and communication index went down by 1.21 percent, mainly due to lower fares for air transport services. Downward shifts in the prices of audio-visual equipment underlay a decrease of 0.12 percent in the recreation and culture index.