ROME (dpa-AFX) – The already high inflation in Italy continued to rise in September. Compared to the same month last year, the consumer prices (HICP) recorded using the European method increased by 9.4 percent, as the statistics office Istat announced on Monday in Rome after a second estimate. This is the highest rate since the euro was introduced as book money in 1999. Italy is a founding member of the currency area. In the previous month, the rate was 9.1 percent.
However, a first estimate for September was revised down slightly by 0.1 percentage point. According to Istat, the increase in prices is mainly due to more expensive food and various services and goods. In contrast, energy prices rose less sharply and thus dampened price dynamics. The high inflation is well above the price target of the European Central Bank, which is targeting two percent inflation for the entire euro area./bgf/la/mis