EU annual inflation up to 1.8 pct in Sept

By Muhamed Ali Gurtas

ANKARA (AA) - European Union consumer prices showed a 1.8 percent rise in September compared with the same month last year, according to Eurostat on Tuesday.

Last month, the annual inflation rate went up by 0.1 percentage point from 1.7 percent in August while the monthly rate of change in consumer prices was a 0.4 percent hike.

Among the EU28, the lowest increases in consumer prices were observed in Southern Cyprus (0.1 percent), Ireland (0.2 percent) and Finland (0.8 percent) while highest rises were recorded in Lithuania (4.6 percent), Estonia (3.9 percent) and Latvia (3 percent).

Compared with the previous month, consumer prices went up in 11 EU countries while there was a fall in nine countries.

Meanwhile, food prices -- including alcohol and tobacco -- and energy prices showed a higher yearly increase than general prices, 2.3 and 3.7 percent, respectively.

Over the past 10 years, the highest annual inflation rate in the EU was seen in July 2008, with a 4.4 percent rise. The lowest level was recorded in January 2015, at minus 0.5 percent, marking a fall in prices instead of an increase.

Since the beginning of this year, consumer prices rose most in February and May with a two percent yearly increase.