August inflation stood at 0.1 per cent, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Friday. NSI said that the edging up of inflation is attributable to the increase of the prices of commodities in housing, water, electricity, natural gas and other fuels.

The harmonized consumer price index indicated deflation of 0.1 per cent in August attributed to the reduction of prices in transport.

The weighted average consumer price increase in August 2008 compared with December 2007 was 6.3 per cent. The year-on-year August inflation was 11.2 per cent. Year-on-year, January-August inflation was 13.8 per cent.

Compared with July, food and soft drinks dropped 0.4 per cent, and tobacco products and liquor rose 0.6 per cent.

Housing, water, electricity, natural gas and other fuels went up by 2 per cent. Health care prices edged up by 0.2 per cent, and prices in transport fell 1.7 per cent.

Source: BTA