In October, the Retail Price Index went up by 0.97 per cent, the National Statistics Office said today, rising to 108.51 from 107.47 in September.

This primarily reflected an increase of 6.94 per cent in the Clothing and Footwear Index due to seasonally higher prices of garments. The Food Index went up by 2.51 per cent, mainly on account of an upward movement in the price of fruit and fish. An increase of 0.57 per cent was registered in the Water, Electricity, Gas and Fuels Index, mainly as a consequence of higher gas prices.

Price rises of tuition services underlay an increase of 0.39 per cent in the Recreational and Culture Index. Higher priced skin care preparations brought about a rise of 0.17 per cent in the Personal Health and Care Index. Higher prices of textiles caused the Household Equipment and House Maintenance Cost Index to go up by 0.16 per cent. A similar increase was registered in the Beverages and Tobacco Index mainly as a result of higher prices of wines.

Cheaper airfares caused the Transport and Communication index to decline by 0.32 per cent. The Other Goods and Services Index edged down by 0.08 per cent due to lower prices of travel articles.

In October, the twelve-month moving average rate of inflation remained the same at 2.30 per cent, whereas the annual rate rose from 2.89 per cent in September to 2.98 per cent.

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