Inflation rate unchanged at 4.6 per cent

The annual rate of inflation for September was unchanged at 4.6 per cent, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office.

Prices were recorded to have risen by 0.4 per cent in September compared with 0.3 per cent in August. This increase was the same as that recorded for September 2000.

According to the CSO the most notable price changes in the year were in the housing sector which saw an increase of 13.3 per cent.

The CSO said the most significant monthly price changes were in the clothing and footwear sector which rose 2.6 per cent.

One of the main factors contributing to the monthly change was the recovery of clothing and footwear prices following the conclusion of sales.

The CSO blamed the rise in cost of housing on increases in the average size of mortgages, local authority rents, house insurance and maintenance.