In August, the annual rate of inflation as measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices went up to 1.0 per cent, from 0.9 per cent registered in July 2016, the NSO said today.

On a monthly basis, the rate of 0.4 per cent was registered in August 2016, up from -0.1 per cent registered in July 2016.

The largest upward impacts on annual inflation were registered in Restaurants and Hotels Index (0.48 percentage points), the Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Index (0.41 percentage points) and Furniture, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House Index (0.21 percentage points). These were mainly due to higher prices of restaurant services (including cafeterias and the like), vegetables and furniture and home furnishings respectively.

The Recreation and Culture Index (0.37 percentage points), the Clothing and Footwear Index (0.13 percentage points) and the Communication Index (0.08 percentage points) registered the largest downward impacts on annual inflation, mainly reflecting lower prices for package holidays, garments and mobile phones respectively.

The twelve-month moving average rate was 1.1 per cent.