MaltaMedia.com

Posted on October 13th, 2009

In September, the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went down by 0.2 per cent to 111.88 from 112.09 in August 2009, according to new data published by the NSO on Tuesday.

This primarily reflected a decrease of 2.6 per cent in the Restaurants and Hotels Index, mainly due to lower prices of accommodation services. The Transport Index went down by 1.8 per cent 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 per cent. The Clothing and Footwear Index went up by 7.7 per cent, 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 1.0 per cent. The Health Index went up by 0.3 per cent, mainly on account of higher prices of pharmaceutical products.

Price rises for package holidays underlay a shift upwards of 0.3 per cent in the Recreation and Culture Index. The Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Index registered an increase of 0.2 per cent, 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 per cent. The Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index registered a 0.1 per cent rise, due to price increases in certain jewellery items.

In September, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 3.2 per cent, whereasthe annual rate of inflation stood at 0.8 per cent.