Consumer prices

Consumer prices moved up by an average of 0,44% in August, according to the Central Statistical Office. Their figures show that food prices were almost unchanged against the July figures at an increase of 0,08%, while alcoholic drinks and tobacco went up 1%, clothing and footwear down by 0,24%, fuel and power for households up by 3,1% and health services up by 1,63%. Slight price decreases were recorded for transport, communications, recreational facilities, restaurants and hotels and miscellaneous goods. The index, which was rebased at 100 on the December 2008 US dollar figures, had declined to
89,9 by May this year, but it has moved onto a rising trend since june and it reached 91,7 in August. - from John Robertson